Bradford Adkins: Scenes in the City

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY
It’s going to be a very busy event season starting this week as Angeline Quinto sings with Sam Milby at the Grand Sierra Resort Casino in Reno, NV on Feb 25, then Cinequest Film Festival starts from February 28 (ends March 11) in San Jose, CA (Maja Salvador accompanied by her director Paul Soriano will reportedly attend their movie collaboration “Thelma” screening), followed by the Star Magic 20 US Tour (starring ABS-CBN’s 22 of their brightest stars led by Piolo Pascual) at the Waikiki Shell in Hawaii on March 30, and then it’s “Teleserye Bida US Tour” (Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby, Enchong Dee, Xian Lim & Rayver Cruz with Pokwang & Young JV) at the James Logan High in Union City versus “Eat Bulaga (the whole cast led by Tito, Vic & Joey) at The Cow Palace in Daly City both on March 31

More Clandestine Operations in the Offing

According to President Barack Obama, the “tide of war is receding”….

Is it? Or is it because the Pentagon is now focused on a more covert kind of war in the offing?

Kulinarya: Fruit Compote ala Jacques Pepin

Our Kulinarya challenge for February is to create a dish that recalls your first love… plus a good love story to go with it. I fell off my chair laughing when I read the email sent by this month’s hosts: Abigail of Nappytales and Marni of Kensington Kitchen, because I think being with the same man for more than a quarter of a century makesme feel too old to remember.

Chief By Day: Aphrodite’s Baked Oysters

On a quest for gastronomic scrutiny, it was in Via Mare when I was a kid that I first discovered synergistic flavour of baked oysters. Who can resist the delightful sight, tempting aroma of melting cheese, and unique taste and succulent texture of oysters- temptation at its finest! From the table to my palate, it has indeed utilized all of my senses. Two simple ingredients combined together to form layers of complex flavour. That first moment of curiosity prompted my instant gratification love affair with Baked Oysters.

LakwatserangBayong: DINING: Dos Mestizos, Davao

Food lovers in bustling Davao City have another reason to celebrate. An authentic Spanish restaurant from Boracay is the new welcome addition to the burgeoning culinary choices scattered like gems all over this progressive city.

Glimpses: Patriots from PSBank?

The impeachment proceedings this week had some key issues which made me reflect more deeply than usual.

First, I heard Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago so passionately articulate her personal view about a document presented by the Prosecution. This document was properly admitted as un-authenticated Philippine Savings Bank (PSB) but deemed important enough for the Prosecution to share it with the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. The information in the document contained account numbers of peso and foreign currency deposits allegedly belonging to Chief Justice Renato Corona. The Prosecution then requested that the accounts be subpoenaed, and their request was granted.

PerryScope: ‘Catch me if you can’

Has it occurred to you that when a person tries to convince others, more doubts are raised about that person’s sincerity or honesty? Such is the situation that Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona has gotten himself into. It’s likened to a person who falls into a quicksand; the more he tries to get out of it, the faster he sinks. But if that person remained immobile he’d still sink nevertheless. The lesson here is: Don’t go near a quicksand.

In the Cross Hairs

The presence of the so called smaller military base in the country may it be real or virtual, the bottom line here is – we are in the cross hairs of Uncle Sam’s frenemies (friends and/or enemies). Any eventualities will put us in grave danger if our leaders will not be wary.

Bradford Adkins: Scenes in the City

SEEN IN THE CITY
From among hundreds of aspirants, Union City-based Katrina Jayne “Trina” Rivera Dimaranan made it to the official 30 candidates of the most prestigious beauty pageant in the Philippines – the Binibining Pilipinas (where Venus Raj, Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up and Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up originated from).

Kitchen Kwento:Butanding and Bicol Express

Bicol is my father’s childhood region. It is coconut country. It is sili country. It is an alchemy of flavors, with dishes of smoky coconut milk laced with birdseye chilis. But while I dreamt of laing and pinanggat and chili-rich Bicol Express, my father dreamt of swimming next to the world’s largest fish known to haunt the waters off Donsol. So our family did it all, spending a week retracing hometowns, tracking the butanding, and tasting some of the Philippine’s best food along the way.

Plate like a love song: Grilled fruits with granola

I was thinking aloud yesterday whether I should have a Valentine post or not and I was surprised to hear my husband say: You should! And it doesn’t have to be heart shaped.

‘It will always be red roses’

Owner Dennis Josue of Fantasia Floral Design on the Upper East Side has seen and heard everything. Nothing more will shock him, knowing that New Yorkers celebrate Valentine’s Day in the craziest manner possible.

Lakwatserang Bayong: WHAT’S ON MY SHELF: Inside the Lion’s Den

CUSTOMS is a major and basic part of travel — across all nations.

[It] Is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country. – Wikipedia

PerryScope: What is Corona hiding?

A storm is brewing at the Senate impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. In a move to prove charges of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust against Corona, the House of Representatives’ prosecution team subpoenaed his bank records, which makes sense if conviction is to be secured. It did not then come as a surprise that Corona’s defense team opposed every attempt to delve into Corona’s bank records, particularly his secret dollar account, which many believe is the repository of his alleged ill-gotten wealth.

SkipToMalou: Garlic Pandesal

If my oven could talk, it would probably say “girl, I need a break!” Haha, because it’s true, I have been under a baking spell. For the past few months now, I’m always covered with flour and sugar grits.

Glimpses: Corona and beyond

If we are to gauge things from the advocacies that individuals and groups devote to reform of institutions and public agencies, one would be shocked at the utter lack of initiatives for reform in the Judiciary. This gives the impression that there is little or no concern about the state of affairs in this very important branch of government, presumably because there is no cause for alarm.

Court Rules: Gay Marriage Ban in California is Unconstitutional

A Federal Appeals Court in California just struck down Proposition 8 –the highly contested ban on same sex marriages that California voters passed with a 52% majority vote in 2008. In a 2 to 1 decision, a three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld the decision of Lower Court Federal Judge Vaugn Walker in 2010, which declared that such ban is a violation of the civil rights of Gays and Lesbians.

Bradford Adkins: Scenes in the City

TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY
(Pasadena, CA) This Columnist has been privileged to be granted an impromptu site inspection of the newest FREE FIL-AM TV Studios located in Pasadena, CA last weekend. What we saw awed us as the facility already is 99% complete, staffed and operational. It has come to this Columnist’s attention, that the KVMD Digital Television (Channel 31.3) already on testing phase for almost a month now, will finally launch on Sunday, February 19, 2012.

Let’s Get Our Acts Together!

Americans are our friends. But, let us all be wary every time Uncle Sam’s top officials and representatives visit the country. . .

Lakwatserang Bayong: It’s a GO for CDO!

Kim Ignacio and MJ Maranion
The name Cagayan de Oro comes from the ancient local word Kagay-an, which translates to “a place by the river.” This energetic city located at the northern coast of Mindanao also stands as one of the major portal to the island. Because of its beautiful landscape, stable peace and order, various [...]

Super Bowl Grub2: Spicy Meatballs

When my friend Jenny saw my previous post: Crispy Chicken Bites with Wasabi Mayo, she immediately called me to ask for more Asian inspired appetizers to serve this Sunday. She asked me to make another “simple yet creative” plate to wow her friends. Her call prompted me to post a sequel (lol!) so here’s my Super Bowl Grub 2: Spicy Meatball.

Did Yonkers teen commit suicide over bullying? Friends claim, but cops doubtful

A fun-loving, Justin Bieber fan was reported to have committed suicide because she was being bullied at school, according to newspaper reports.

Glimpses: We watch while they go hungry

4.5 million Filipino families experience hunger and the rest who can help prevent this watch as they go hungry. It is a cursed life that the hungry live, and it is a curse that many who can help, but do not, will have to bear in their lives.

PerryScope: Brouhaha over pirated DVDs

From the time President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III appointed Ronald Llamas as presidential adviser on political affairs, Llamas has become the lightning rod for criticism against P-Noy’s administration. But P-Noy doesn’t seem to be bothered with the attacks directed at Llamas. Indeed, nobody could touch Llamas… unless his critics could produce incontrovertible evidence of malfeasance.

Super Bowl Grub: Crispy Chicken Bites with Wasabi Mayo

Are you ready for your gameday grub? Yeah it’s Super Bowl Sunday this weekend, I’m sure you already know that. I bet you are ready for a nice thick and sticky glazed hot buffalo wings. Or those platters of chips and salsa maybe? How about those thick and creamy, cheesy dip… yum!