This week, Western Mindanao State University, my alma mater, is celebrating its annual WMSU Palaro. WMSU graduates like me look forward to this annual event. Most of the time, the Palaro also serves as an opportunity to meet old acquaintances.

The Mr and Ms WMSU was conducted last Saturday and I had the chance to watch it. When I was in college, only female candidates compete in the pageant. But for the past years, they have included men because the pageant also serves as a chance for deserving students to get scholarships.

One thing that stuck into my mind last Saturday was the answer of one of the female candidates during the casual interview. It was a quotable quote which I think will be remembered for several months. The candidate was ask what was the craziest thing she has done so far. She said that it was how she and her guy started their relationship. She was proud to announce that she was the one who courted the guy and he is a good catch. She reminded the girl audience that courting a guy is okay because the "world is already running out of men". The crowd went wild after her answer. :)

A day after the pageant was the opening ceremonies and cheerdance competition at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex. When the host called the audience to sing the WMSU hymn, majority of the crowd participated. I saw one of my friends who graduated ahead of me singing the hymn. I was also motivated to join since the lyrics is still in my memory. The singing of the school song makes me proud to be a graduate of WMSU. I have been teaching in Ateneo de Zamboanga University for almost 6 years now. I hate to compare but I always see that whenever Ateneo songs are sang, students and faculty in ADZU still refer to the printed lyrics or from the projection.

Soon, I will be shredding my blue feathers and wear back my crimson clothes again. I'm already excited! :)

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic
1 pc ginger
1 bowl coconut milk
1/4 cup tomato sauce
10 pcs crab
1 pack maggi seasoning
salt
1 teaspoon sugar

Procedure:

1. Saute' garlic and ginger until golden brown.
2. Place crab and mix with garlic and ginger.
3. Season with salt and Maggi seasoning.
4. Pour coconut milk.
5. Simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Mix tomato sauce and add 1 teaspoon of sugar.
7. Simmer for 5 minutes.

You can also add curry powder or siling labuyo and bagon gata. Unfortunately, I can't add it to this recipe because my pamangkins like to eat crabs.

Alone I am here
Watching the deep blue sea
Cool wind damps my face
Makes my heart faint.

Solemnity I guess
Created my loneliness
It makes me wonder,
Is there someone out there?

Beyond the horizon
A lovely lady awaits
Will she heal my solitude?
My heart will she pamper?

I own two blogs. Seed Interactive blog is a multimedia and technology blog and Hola Filipinas is a Travel blog. Since I want to write specific topics in my blogs, I decided to come up with an additional blog for my personal thoughts, experiences, poems and recipes.

I hope you will enjoy your stay in my dominion!