SINGAPORE BARGAINS-REALLY

Singapore they say has the cheapest electronics goods. I should say so because where else can u have such bargains as $1 Plasma TVs(but u have to be early) or $1 Refrigerators.

The favorite past time of Singaporeans is shopping so watch out for the crowds- just follow the crowd and u would surely reach the bargain area. One such place we visited recently was the opening of the BIG Safe Store in Harbour Front Shopping Centre. It is right in the terminal where you get your ferry rides to Batam Indonesia.

The last time we bought our 27" flat screen TV at a bargain we had to queue up for lucky draw tickets and participate in a lucky draw and when ur name is called ,you scream like you have won the toto. But when we went to BIG, the emcee was announcing the hourly bargains, and everyone was just staring at him and the LCD TV. So I told Tony, I think its cheap, $888 for a 20" Toshiba TV. So we bought it.(we didnt think anymore because there were a lot of people).How lucky can we get.

Next stop Giant, a bargain store, again a cheap find, VCD for $52Next time we unload our goods, and replace our old electronic items, call us, we have totally imbived the Singaporean spirit of KIASU(ism), Hokkien word for "Afraid of losing out " specially on a bargain.

ITS SUMMER VACATION TIME IN PINAS

I am looking forward actually to the start of summer vacation in the Philippines. Why, kamo? Because my sisters are all planning a trip overseas. Malu and her daughter Bernice are going to HK and Me Ann and her brood of 4 boys are visiting us here in Singapore. My two kids are already very excited kasi they will be seeing their cousins here. Incidentally, it also coincides with the School break in Singapore (March 11-19). Tapos na ang 1st Continual Assessment nila this Friday March 3.

In Singapore the child is graded or assessed based on 4 exams only /yr. (walang quiz quiz at recitation dito)There are two Continual Assessment Tests which accounts for roughly 30% of the grades and another 30% for one Semestral Test in June before the 1 month June Holiday. The last Semestral Test in November eh mabigat since it is a hefty 40% of total grades kaya if u pass all these tests pasado ka na pero kung hindi sorry na lang. Passing Mark is 50% of 4 subjects (you get the average of 4 subjects namely ENglish,Math, Science and lo and behold Chinese).Eh bobo ang 2 anak ko sa Chinese so they really have to do well with the 3 other subjects. Sana pasado naman sila kung hindi ang PARUSA-matutulog sila sa laundry room(Walang kumot at walang unan)

EDSA

Quite sad that there is news again back home that "PEOPLE POWER" is trying to oust Gloria again. Kelan kaya titigil ang mga politiko sa ganitong klaseng gulo. It hurts almost everyone most specially the poor. The Shrine in EDSA is supposed to be the Lady of Peace however what often happens in this area is not peaceful but unruly assembly.

WEIRD SIGNS……

Have you ever travelled and suddenly see road signs that are very strange or weird? Well, I did, and here are some of them.

Probably this is where Casper lives(Casper the friendly Ghost he he!). Ghost Town is a small mining town in Arizona and became deserted since there were several mining disasters in the place. Here’s another……….

If you feel sleepy ZzZZZ, you will surely wake up to get a clear photo of this sign on the way to Vegas. 

Death  Valley got its name from the series of deaths that this place was known for in the 1800’s.The deaths however happened due to dehydration early settlers encountered due to the desert heat.

If u have the time and patience to watch the road signs travelling to Vegas, here are the signs to watch out for and are good opportunities for Kodak moments..you might never travel this way again.

My Son’s Favorite ALL Time Singapore Food

When u are living in Singapore where everywhere you turn you can find a food stall (sa Pinas carinderia ang tawag) ,you cannot help but find favor with some of the local food.

My two sons,NYGEL and NILES absolutely love CHICKEN RICE. Even if you close your eyes and ask them what they want to eat in a food stall or food court, the FIRST CHOICE IS CHICKEN RICE. In this page is one of the recipes of Chicken Rice 

 Hainanese chicken rice recipe, adapted to my personal preference.

Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:

Chicken:1 whole chicken, about 3 pounds
1 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, peeled
4 slices fresh ginger, peeled
4 scallions, trimmed
about 12 cups water
2 tablespoons sesame oil
sliced tomatoes (garnish)
sliced cucumbers (garnish)
cilantro sprigs/coriander (garnish)

Chicken Rice:
2 cups long-grain rice
2 tablespoons peanut oil
5 shallots, peeled and minced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3-1/2 cups reserved stock from cooking chicken
1/2 teaspoon salt

PREPARATION:
Wash chicken and remove excess fat. Rub the inside of the cavity with salt.
Smash garlic and ginger slightly with the flat of a knife. Tie scallions into a knot.
Place garlic, ginger, and scallions inside the chicken cavity.
Bring the water to a boil in a pot large enough to hold the chicken.
Add the chicken, breast-side down.
Simmer, covered, 30-40 minutes, turning chicken halfway through the cooking process, until chicken is done (juices from thigh should run clear when pricked with a fork).
Carefully remove chicken, draining liquid from body cavity back into the pot.
Reserve the stock to make chicken rice.
Plunge the chicken into ice water for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process and tighten the skin. Drain, rub with sesame oil, and let cool to room temperature.
To serve, chop chicken into bite-size pieces (the Chinese do this bone and all) and arrange on a platter.
Garnish with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and cilantro sprigs.

To make the chicken rice, wash the rice and drain in a colander. Let stand 1/2 hour to dry.
Heat oil in a wok. Add the shallots and garlic. Stir-fry until fragrant. Add rice grains and stir-fry 3-4 minutes, until glossy and fragrant.
Transfer to a saucepan.
Add the chicken broth and salt.
Bring to a boil over high heat and boil until the liquid level evaporates to the level of the rice and steam holes appear.
Turn heat to low.
Cover and simmer 40 minutes. Serve with Hainanese chicken.

Serve with Chili Sauce

Chili Sauce recipe
INGREDIENTS:
About 2 ounces fresh red chilies, seeded1 ounce garlic, peeled1 ounce fresh ginger, peeled3 to 4 teaspoons lime juice1/2 teaspoon salt

PREPARATION:Combine chilies, shallots(onion), garlic, and ginger in a food processor or blender and process to a paste.

Enjoy!

HURRAY 6 YEARS IN SINGAPORE

Come March 2006, we (my children,myself and our alalay) have already spent 6 whole years in Sunny Singapore. Tony by December would be 11 years strong in this place we now call home(temporary). Thanks to our friends and foes(none so far) who have all made our stay in Singapore pleasant and tolerable and happy. here are some of our friends

These are our Pinoy Friends from POSAP (Pinoy Oblates of Saint Anthony de Padua). Our church friends. We meet twice a month, for Pinoy masses every last Sunday of the month and blocm rosary every 1st Saturday or Sunday of each month.

LOCAL AIRFARES ARE GETTING CHEAPER

Whats happening to the airlines in Singapore? just today Singapore Airlines (SQ) plane tickets going to Manila are selling at $98 return,including taxes it is less than $200 return while a few years ago going to Manila you have to pay at least $550 for a return ticket via PAL and not even SQ which has more expensive ticket.

By far this is cheaper considering that Tiger Airways charges $110 one way fare without the frills, this SQ offer is a steal but you have to travel with a companion and must fly off before March 9. Someday maybe going to manila will be cheaper than riding an MRT. (0 fares) A few weeks ago Tiger Airways offered 0 fares to almost all destinations but the deal was only good for 2 days. Just watch out for other price bargains. I Love it!!! Why not offer this rates in June (school holidays) or December? 

LEYTE

What can you say about disasters. ..That they strike us without notice. The sad thing with the Leyte incident is that this is the second time that it happened in the same province.The worst probably was the first but the loss of human lives is something that is very hard to accept.

 What do we do–people who like us are far away from our country and who look at these incidents somehow callously like as if it has happened somewhere else ?I cannot say that Leyte officials did not know that a disaster was forthcoming, nobody knows really. I just hope and pray that no other disaster will strike the Philippines again (if that could be helped).

You see in Singapore, a country that is so small, there are no disasters, no earthquake, no typhoon, no tidal wave —NOTHING (NADA).They have thuderstorms though. That the mere falling of a cat in the roof is already a major disaster(just joking).If ever there is a disaster, we count fatalities in tens not even hundreds and normally it happens out of Singapore when Singaporeans are on holiday going somewhere else like Australia or Africa(know what I mean, they meet accidents only when they go on tour).

But in the Philippines, even when you are already staying at home, suddenly disaster strikes. WHo can imagine aeroplanes landing on your house(like those on nearby Merville Subdivision) or  your house being swept away by mud. What more if your house is below the bridge (ilalim ng tulay). Lets Just pray for everyone!

GOOD DAY MAID

Today is Sunday and I am working in the office waiting for my clients to arrive. At 1:30 I am waiting for this Indian lady married to an expat. She is looking for an Indonesian maid to take care of her 4 year old daughter.Two Indonesian girls are coming for interview.Today , Filipino maids go out for their day off.

Its funny why FIlipino maids want to work only for white employers and not for local ones(you know Indians, SIngaporeans ,Malay). May discrimination na rin sila. Maids who specially had worked in Singapore for even a few months would prefer white maski na kamukha ni Redford White,basta puti ang gusto nila.

If you are planning to work in SIngapore and you are bringing your kids, its best that you already look for a good maid in the Philippines to bring here because you will not find one who will last with you kung hindi mo sila kilala. The favorite past time of maids in Singapore are strolling in Orchard road, chatting with other maids in Lucky Plaza or at Gulong Park(near the Orchard MRT) and going to mass(funny why they consider this a past time).

They come in all shapes and sizes. Every Sunday, you see them wearing the skimpiest of clothes which they can never wear in the Philippines or in the homes of their employers. Some enterprising ones sell things to other maids on their day off, some do part time work(cleaning other peoples houses which is prohibited here) and some go to discos with Myanmar, Bangla Deshi or Indian men.

You hear all kinds of stories about their employers, all sorts of complaints and very few would sing praises about their bosses. I believe its because they are home sick and lack the affection of theirloved ones. So its not uncommon to hear of maids even those who are married to have Indian,Bangladeshi or Indian Boy friends.