Chico
Mood:  happy
Topic: Fruits of the Philippines




CHICO



Walk around Chinatown this week and you'll find an interesting fruit that looks like a small potato. It's called chico, but many may also know it as sapodilla. It's a favorite among Filipinos, but will be somewhat exotic-tasting for those trying it for the first time.
The basics: Chico, also called sapodilla or naseberry in Jamaica and the Caribbean, is the fruit of a large tropical evergreen. It is egg-shaped with a fuzzy brown exterior similar to kiwi fruit. Inside are two black seeds surrounded by a slightly granular flesh, which ranges from tan to pinkish-brown and has a sweet taste similar to brown sugar or maple syrup. The flavor is also similar to Fuyu persimmons.

Sapodilla is native to South and Central America and was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish. The sap of the sapodilla tree was traditionally extracted to make chicle, an early form of chewing gum. Chico is now grown throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, India and the Caribbean and is a good source of potassium and vitamin C.

Selecting: Choose fruit that is smooth and free of dark spots. It should give slightly to pressure. Watch out for shriveled or wrinkled skin or fruit that is too soft -- sure signs that it's overripe.

Storing: Chico can be eaten only when fully ripe. If hard, leave it out for a couple of days until it begins to soften. You can then refrigerate it for a couple of days.

Use: Rinse fruit before consuming. Cut in half diagonally and remove seeds. Spoon out flesh from skin or peel. Chico is generally eaten as is, but the flesh can be blended with a tropical fruit juice for a refreshing drink.

Christmas in Floridablanca by: Joas "jojo" Chavez
Mood:  happy
Topic: Fruits of the Philippines
Christmas by: Joas L. Chavez
Filipino says, IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD A CHRISTMAS CAROLS WHEN THE MONTHS OF "*BER" Then, you never grew up in the Philippines. In the Philippines does the season to be merry come incredibly early. Once September comes, the first of the so-called ''ber'' months, it instantly becomes an article of faith for the Filipinos to believe Christmas is just around the corner. Of course, across the ocean from where we are, Filipino, Americans and Europeans are still enjoying their places in the sun. And looking forward for Halloween and of course the night of Thanksgiving. The rush for Christmas is as Pinoy as Filipino time. A paradox, that. We're late for everything and everyone else, but way ahead for the advent of the Yuletide season. So, now its only 90 days remaining before Christmas, listen to the radio blare of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, of mommy kissing Santa Claus, of the herald angels sing in the silence of the holy night. It warms your heart and the feeling of wanted to be young again to fully enjoy the spirit of Christmas in the Philippines. But even then, young old do enjoy the birthday of Jesus Christ. One would believe that having heard it all this early on, we would tire of Christmas before its time. No way. In this country, Christmas does not come and go. It comes and comes, lingers, and enticed to stay. It used to be that the Feast of the Three Kings on Jan. 6 put an end to the liturgical season of Christmas. Not that anyone here was heard to complain but we no longer have to wait that long, decreed the Catholic Church in the Philippines, perhaps, to discourage our addiction to the holiday. I remember in my younger years as a kid in Floridablanca. I could really feel that Pasko is coming. You wake up in the morning you can smell the cold breeze and the changes in mood of the Filipino People. It all starts in September. Turning the radio to greet you with "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and it will melt you with the next song of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmassss". We (Filipinos) knows that "Maleldo" is coming and yet Christmas is in the air to all Filipinos. As we approach December one begins to hear more and more fire-crackers specially "lebentador" being tested somewhere out there. In the residential and streets, kids would be playing with "Watusi". Older boys would be braving a light of a 5-star firecracker. Sometimes we could smell the burned-up powder of detonated firecrackers and Watusis played by kids. I still remember going for evening walks with my friends doing "Carollings" and going to "Luneta (florida)" hanging out waiting for almost midnight just to get freshly bake "Pandesal". Nothing fancy and yet we had fun. A fun that still within me melting me down. I do wish that I have a TIme Machine just to get back to it. I am sure we all do wish that. Also, one cannot avoid seeing the numerous parols that hang infront of houses no matter how poor and welthy we are. Those who could afford to pay the electricity bill had their gardens covered in lights. Some of them twinkling. Luckily, my first born Child (Joanne)is her Birthday on Chrismats eve to celebrate her Birthday with our friends. Little thing that I know, I created a tradition a traditions to Celebrate my Daughter's Birthday along to celebrate the Birthday of Jesus". Evening comes, kids would be carolling from door to door. No matter how bad they sang, no matter how primitive their instruments, they always got something.... When the recieved something (Twenty Five centavos) from their efforts, they would sing their grand finale, "Tenk-Q Tenk-Q Mr and Mrs Tenk-Q! I know the feeling... I was one of them. Pinoy Christmas Season is very lively. Those of you in the Philippines, cherish and preserve that atmosphere. It is something that exemplifies what Christmas should be like (in my humble opinion).

I am Proud to be a Filipino by: Joas "jojo" Chavez
Topic: Fruits of the Philippines
I do not expect everyone to share my ideas just to understand them -- what works for me may not necessarily work for everybody.
From time to time, I may have aroused anger from some of you for some of my ideas and I wish to apologize for this. I did wish to provoke reactions but it was never my intention to maliciously attack the sensitivities of others. I have tried to be careful with what I write -- sometimes however my frailties made me write so tersely when I should not have done so. I hope that debate continue to flourish in this net but not the flame wars that have characterized some matters. Name calling and overkilling an issue weaken whatever strong arguments one writes. I pray that we can all start to recognize our many failures and weaknesses but at the same time see that we have a lot of strengths. Two noticeable weaknesses in our culture are the lack of the correct form of nationalism and the extreme disappointment we have with our countrymen. I guess the former maybe borne from a lack of inherent identity. How can we say with certainty that we are proud of being Filipinos when we do not even know who we are -- are we Asians trying to be Westerners or Westerners trying to be Asians? It also bothers me to notice we can be very cynical about the attitudes of our countrymen. Not that there is nothing to be disappointed with, but are we blatantly misusing statistical inference, i.e. judging the whole on the basis of a sample? We must remember that many of our countrymen are poor!! We must not judge them too harshly. Many of them are concerned only about their day to day survival. When I visited Floridablanca years ago, I found it strange that jeepneys always passed through the gasoline station after each trip they make rather than go for a full tank. Little did I realize that they want to spend only what is needed so that they can bring home the rest of their earnings. Are we living in an illusion that this country is far better than the Philippines? (Not that I am saying that the Philippines is better than the US either -- that may itself be an illusion.) Are we expecting too much of the Philippines -- do we expect the kind of technology and comforts that the US offers to be in abundance back home when we can not even afford to feed more than eighty percent of our countrymen? Is it truly more joyful to live a comfortable life than to bear a life of trials and tribulations? To seek happiness in things that will not last forever or in those which ensure one's immortality? Some of you may undoubtedly feel that even if you wanted to go home, you could not survive as there are too many things beyond your control -- we have a corrupt system, etc., etc. But what have we truly done to combat these evils? I have noticed that sometimes the harshest critics of a system are the very same people who will not act when they should. Let us put our hands, our pockets, and whatever we can offer into where our mouth is. Then and only then can we truly say we have done what we could. There are some who have done this and who might feel that nothing has changed. On the other hand, you may be seeing only one perspective so do not feel discouraged! Changes often take more than a lifetime to build!! Do we not realize that the actions each of us take always bear fruit?! They always do. The only problem is that you may not see them. Not seeing something does not mean this something does not exist. Bear in mind that in spite of the many problems facing the Philippines, our countrymen still have survived. Prices of goods continue to increase exponentially yet (by the grace of the good Lord) we have managed to make ends meet. We are a talented people -- producing the likes of Lea Salonga! We have shown the world that there is a peaceful way to fight a dictatorship. Of course, there will be those among you who might think you were betrayed by EDSA, but you can not feel betrayed unless you yourselves have made revolutions of your minds and hearts. We will just be hypocrites if we keep crying yet our consciences will tell us that we ourselves have not done enough. The future of the Philippines is in the hands of dreamers. I am proud to know that there are some people who are earnestly trying to make a difference. A final word from someone who you will probably never ever read from again: let us LOVE OUR COUNTRY MUCH MORE than how much we do now. If it would take a sacrifice (but one that your conscience says you can endure), why not take it? Dr. Laurel once said, "nobody can love the Filipino better than the Filipino." Maybe it is better to think that "if nobody loves the Filipino, who else will?" We must know who we are, and start getting proud of who we are, of what we can do despite our limitations. Let us search within the deepest tunnels of our hearts to ask ourselves if we are doing enough to help our country, if we truly love our country (and if not why don't we?). We can get truly organized and fight the waves of evil strongly entrenched in the hierarchy of Philippine society. We must teach ourselves, our children and our children's children that the strength of a nation is not built in one day. Let us learn from the experience of the Jews -- did they enter the Promised Land during Abraham's time ? during Moses' time ? Did Israel become an overnight power in the Middle East or did get their strength from the pride each Jew has of his heritage? May God be with you in the ball game of life...
Joas "jojo" Chavez