The Oprah Winfrey Show Ends

Is it true that the worldwide popular daytime talk show 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' will really end?

Harpo President Tim Bennett, announced in his letter that the show will indeed have its last episode on September 2011.

"Tomorrow, Oprah will announce live on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history."

News say that Oprah is planning to do a new show which will be aired on his own cable channel, The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

Johnny Delgado is Dead

Reports are now circulating in Tweeter and other social sites that Filipino actor Johnny Delgado is dead at past 1 pm this afternoon, November 19, 2009.

Delgado, a great actor and husband of director Laurice Guillen, was diagnosed of lymphoma, a type of cancer, sometime in 2008.

He was 60 years old.

During his showbiz career, Delgado won six awards and at least 19 nominations. You may see his various achievements and movie works here.


Our deepest condolences to Johnny's Family.

The Mexican Traditional Way of Cooking

It is not surprising that different races (or nations) have their own different set of materials and equipments used in cooking their food. While now, technology has provided us with gas stoves, electric stoves, ovens, electric grills, etc., it is still interesting to learn about how our ancestors are able to cook their food.

In the Philippines (South-east of Asia), for example, tribes were able to cook rice using bamboos. In fact, this method of cooking is still being thought during youth campings. They also have what they call 'kalan', a tripod made of clay wherein twigs and woods are being placed in order to create fire for cooking.

A Mexican friend shared to me that during the early days (hundred or even thousand years ago), their Mexican ancestors were using chimineas to cook their food. I have to admit to him that I have never seen one in my entire life, and so he was eager enough to surf the internet and sent me a sample picture.

Just like the 'kalan' from the Philippines, the original chiminea is made of clay. This is because clays are easy to find in Mexico. Historical stories tell us that whenever a chiminea breaks down, cracks or falls apart, the people will just have to go to river banks and scoop clays to repair the damage.

Because of their beautiful and artistic designs, chimineas became popular export products in the United States and in the United Kingdom because aside from cooking, they are good ornaments outside the house and in the gardens.

However, since clays easily wear off, manufacturers are now introducing chimineas that are made of iron. A very popular example is the Leaf Cast Iron Chiminea.

With the introduction of new equipments (stoves, ovens) used for cooking, the chiminea is now instead used as a Portable Fireplace outside houses. They are perfect whenever groups would want to gather together and share the night away. And because new models are now made up of iron/metals, chimineas become an instant source of fire to provide heat and comfort among people.

----------

For best results in using chimineas, you may want to use woods that give aromatic scents when burned, like pinonwood.






This blog specializes in grills, barbecue grills, oven, and other outdoor equipments.

Of Triumph And Defeat

(photo: photobucket)

What a weekend that was for the Filipino.

While basketball still remains to be the most played sports over the country, boxing has clearly made its way to be one of the most watched game in our television-proper credits given to Manny Pacquiao, who recently won over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto via a technical knockout in Round 12.

How sweet it is for the nation to see our champion being accorded the highest degree of respect in the world of boxing. Considered as the reigning pound for pound king, Pacquiao is said to have written history to become the First Boxer to win seven (7) Titles in different weight division-something no one has ever achieved.

And not only has Pacquiao become triumphant. The Filipino spirit is once again uplifted by the triumph of its most prized fighter on Sunday morning of November 15, 2009.

++++++++++

Unknown to many, however, on Saturday night and the day before Pacquiao steps into the ring, another budding Filipino Boxer in the name of Z Gorres, has suffered Triumph and Defeat at Las Vegas, Nevada. Minutes after winning a convincing bout, Gorres was rushed to a hospital when a swelling in his brain got him to a comatose.

As of today, the fate of Gorres is uncertain.

Triumph. Defeat. Tragedy. Boxing remains, and has now become a popular option for uneducated children in the provinces to get a shot at fame and fortune. Much like their hero Pacquiao.

(grills, barbecue grills, pacquiao, outdoor)

Aquino Tops October 2009 Pulse Asia Survey

If elections were held today, 44% of Filipinos would elect Liberal Party's Standard Bearer Noynoy Aquino III as president of the Philippines. This is according to Pulse Asia's most recent poll on Presidential Preference. The nationwide survey was conducted on October 22 to 30, 2009.

Far second is Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party (19%). Third is Chiz Escodero (13%), and at fourth is Erap Estrada who got 11%.

Aquino, who, in the previous surveys was not included among the choices, suddenly rose to "stardom" after her mother, former president Cory Aquino, died of colon cancer. After what seems to be a sympathetic gesture coming from the people, Noynoy Aquino became an instant contender for the presidency.

Meanwhile, despite Chiz Escudero's risky resignation from the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) on October 2009, his rankings in the survey did not improve much.

Administration candidate Gibo Teodoro, however, maintained his standing at far below the list, with only 2%.

The Heat Is On!

Getting our clan together for a night would be a very rare occassion. This is because it is very difficult for us to meet our schedules for a particular day. This year, however, we are hoping on having a family/clan reunion come Christmas day at our ancestral house, so we have started on getting our schedules fixed since June 2009. As most of our cousins and relatives have confirmed that they are coming, our parents, who are living near the clan's ancestral house, have also started fixing up the place and checking on how we can best accomodate our relatives, specially those who are coming from abroad.

One particular issue that we still have to resolve is that since the start of September, an abrupt change in the climate has happened in our area. We are experiencing cold weather, so we are contemplating on setting up an Outdoor Heater in the gardens. This is to make everyone feel comfortable even as we sit and relax outside the home.

As you may have read in my previous posts, barbecues are always a part of our dinner menu, so we really will have to set up grill and do our cooking outside. Also, since we are expecting many relatives, it would be most practical if we will be setting up the dinner table outside, where there is more space for everybody. A Patio Heater every table must have to be set up in order to ensure that everyone will be kept warm during the occassion.

Patio Heaters may be a little bit uncommon in our area, but really, they are a good use specially in countries where they have a very cold weather. But with the unexplainable climate changes happening around the world, the cold weather has suddenly come unto our region, and we have no choice but to adjust and make sure that everyone among us deserve a comfortable accomodation.

There are various types of Patio Heaters, and really, I was surprised to see that they are actually not that expensive. In fact, there are types that are sold even for less than 200 Dollars in the internet. So why must we suffer from cold weather when we can turn the heat on and enjoy a very precious moment with our families?

----------

Advanced Merry Christmas, everyone!

Edu Manzano Is Lakas VP Bet

It is time to dance The Papaya!

----------

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno announced today that the Lakas-CMD-Kampi is fielding Actor Edu Manzano as its Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2010 National Elections. He is running alongside (Defense Secretary) Gilbert 'Gibo' Teodoro who is gunning for President.

Manzano, a former actor, has previously held public office as Vice Mayor of Makati City, and as Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairman. Aside from acting, he is also the host of the popular ABS-CBN network game show, Game KNB?, where the song and dance 'Papaya' has become a very big hit.

As of today, expected tandems for the coming elections will be:

Gibo Teodoro & Edu Manzano for Lakas-CMD-Kampi

Noynoy Aquino & Mar Roxas for Liberal Party

Erap Estrada & Jejomar Binay for PMP

Manny Villar (from the NP) is reportedly persuading NPC member Loren Legarda as his Vice Presidential candidate.