Amidst today's plans and activities, I was craving for this certain Filipino delicacy that I can't seem to buy just from anywhere. Googling it, I found myself time to try making something new - "Palitaw". Hence, I decided to make an appreciation post it and share to the world how good it is (and what you're missing out if you haven't tried it!).
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| Source from Google Images |
This is a famous Filipino flat sweet rice cake dessert that's quite easy to do, considering it's no bake as I couldn't resist myself from doing it myself. Notice from the photo above, Palitaw is usually served with coconut gratings and mascuvado (raw sugar), topped with white sugar and sesame seeds.
How to make Palitaw:
- Heat the cooking oil in a pan. Add the sesame seeds. Toast until brown.
- Combine sugar, coconut flakes and toasted sesame seeds. Set aside.
- Combine glutinous rice flour and water until a dough is formed.
- Take about a tablespoon of the dough and shape it into a ball then flatten the middle of the dough with your thumb.
- Boil water in a pot. Drop in the dough in boiling water; wait until dough floats.
- Remove and set aside. Allow the dough to dry out and cool down.
- Roll the dough in coconut mixture. Serve and Enjoy!
The dough that was actually made during the process is the same dough we use in mochi, a Japanese rice cake, and in the black sesame rice ball, a traditional Chinese dessert. See photos below.
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| Japanese Mochi Source from Google Images |
Note that the outer filling is the rice dough. You mix it with different food colorings as well.
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| Chinese Black Sesame Rice Ball Source from Google Images |
You can read more about the Chinese rice ball dessert in detail here:
Personally, Filipino desserts have this standing-out flavor compared to others. I find it sweet yet bland (I don't understand it myself either), but it makes me crave for it sometimes. Aside from Palitaw, I really recommend trying out puto bumbong, a very distinct purple dessert, usually eaten during Christmas season.
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| Source from Google Images |
This Filipino delicacy is cooked in a very unique steamer. It is usually a metal kettle, shaped with protruding tubes on top of the base to hold the "bumbong".
Check out the recipe here : http://www.pinoyhapagkainan.com/puto-bumbong/
These two top my must-try Filipino desserts. And if you took notice, both are best eaten with muscavado (raw sugar). Yes, I love the muscavado taste! It has this different texture and leaves off a different flavor compared to white and brown sugar. Now that I think of it, maybe I crave for Palitaw and Puto Bumbong just so I can have a taste of muscovado, but, nah, the desserts themselves are really good! It's just that the muscovado enhaces the flavor. *wink wink*
Of course, there's still lots of Filipino good food out there but this ends my first food post. Good day! :)
Have you ever felt this feeling after finishing a certain TV series or Kdrama (Korean Drama), you're just not yet satisfied - the feeling of "What that's it? What now?!" - that you want more?
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| Source from Google Images |
I'm sure everyone has experienced this at least once. Well, welcome to the world of fanfiction! Indulging in fan written stories (fanfiction) is a whole new world to get into - the world of which is sometimes, crazy and overwhelming yet a wonderful way to satisfy all the hanging "what ifs".
I remember the first time I was introduced to fanfiction. It was during high school when my friends who were really into anime finished watching Gauken Alice (Alice Academy), a popular must watch to their watch list and they can't stop shipping MikaXNatsume OTP (one true pairing).
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| Natsume and Mikan from Gauken Alice (Alice Academy) Source from Google Images |
They were so into the show to the point, they aren't even contended with the happy ending. Despite the anime having a manga (comic) version, it was yet to be completed at that time, hence, their desperation, the discovery of fanfiction.net alas! But for the record, this wasn't my first fanfic. Funny enough it was on Boys over Flowers' Yi Jung and Ga Eul, played by Kim Bum and Kim So Eun respectively.
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| Kim Bum and Kim So Eun on Boys over Flowers Source from Google Images |
This is one of those cases where I got to like the supporting characters (couple) better than the protagonists. It felt like they didn't get enough screen time and I was wanting for more. There comes fanfiction to the rescue! (*Note: Because fans really began shipping this couple, the pair bagged a cellphone advertisement together though I kinda think it's fan service. Click this to check it out!)
So what does fanfiction really mean?
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| Source from Google Images |
Fanfiction, sometimes called fanfic or FF for short, picks up where the "reality" of the show leaves off. This encompasses all types of shows - movies, TV series, anime or manga provide actual canon or the official truth or facts on which the work is based on. Canon may be set on a normal life or could be as fantastical as can be, giving the stories more plot twists and making it more complex. But honestly, this is the hardest part - writing the fanfic. I admire those writers who are able to express their imagination in writing, convey and share their ideas to the world. It could be as grounded and as loyal to the original show - "loyal to the canon" - and more so if it isn't the sky's the limit and imagination is the only boundary.
To dwell on this topic more, get started with a help of a quick cheat-sheet below on what to remember!
AU (Alternate Universe)
It is one of the popular categories of fanfiction wherein the "universe" was changed - meaning characters are brought to a completely different world and/or timeline or transforming them into different species. For example, Benedict Cumberbatch as an 18th century prince or My Girlfriend Is A Nine-Tailed Fox's Gumiho became Justin Bieber's girlfriend.
A/N (author's note)
It's a disclaimer, explanation or preface from the author usually at the begining or end of the written work.
Angst
Genre with a heavy depressing, emotional, hurt-heavy themes as characters experience suffering, depression, break-ups or death.
Beta (beta-read, beta-reader)
It is to edit or comment on someone's work; or one who does the editing or commenting as requested by the work's author.
C&C (comments & criticism)
This pertains to the readers feedback, usually placed at the end of every chapter or section.
Collab (short for collaboration)
Basically, a fanfiction written in installments of different authors (a story written and divided among two or more authors)
Crossover
A genre wherein fanfic interacts or straddles between two different universe (two complete different series/characters/worlds) or fandoms
Drabble
These are short vignettes (more or less around 100 words only) usually written in POVs (most of the time first POV) for the author just to express his thoughts and ideas on the topic.
Fluff
This is a light-hearted genre and feel good themed stories. Stories revolving around sweet nothings and courtings usually.
OC (original character)
A fanficion created with an orginal character created by the author.
OOC (out of character)
Fanfiction characters undergo a complete turn of personality or attitude (behaving differently, non-canon way)
Fanfiction characters undergo a complete turn of personality or attitude (behaving differently, non-canon way)
OTP (one true pairing)
This is what you call your ultimate bias or favorite pairing of all time regardless whether canon or not. *In my case, my first OTP would be Yi Jung and Ga Eul from Boys of Flowers*
Ratings
Authors would rate their work according to content or theme of their work, ranging from G to NC-17 (mature) - in fanfiction.net's case, from K to M.
RPF (real person fiction)
Stories about real people and how they are paired up
R&R (read and review/rate and review)
A call for an R&R are usually noted at the A/N either at the beginning or end of their work.
Ship, shipping
(short for "relationship","relationship-ping")
Author or story's main romantic bias with a fan couple name together (i.e. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Brangelina)
So now you know the 101's of fanfiction, go ahead and try reading one!
It usually starts with just one, then comes another one. "It's not yet enough. I could do better." Three, four, five, and soon, you'll just keep on wanting more; hence, where the collection begins. Collectibles could be anything, from wine to coins and stamps to comics and figures to bottle caps and personally, I admire collectors; their dedication is really something. I honestly envy how they have this passion. You could really feel their commitment and enthusiasm towards it especially when you start talking to them about it. They won't be having any trouble expressing their feelings about it and could go on for hours talking about it without missing a beat!
Collections could be as small as stamps, but could go as big as furniture. But what's your reason for collecting? Where does it all start? In my opinion, to reminisce the feeling of nostalgia, to support a new hobby or interest, to quench the thrill and challenge of finding, to have something others don't, or to deem it as a future investment are the five main motivations to start a collection.
A kitty with a red ribbon - first thing that comes into mind? Of course, Hello Kitty! I have known this character as far as I can remember and I'm sure some people have grew with this character. It's design has been in the market since. The franchise has become a billion dollar business for Sanrio, the Japanese company who created Hello Kitty. Although originally designed to attract female pre-teens to teens, the brand has climbed it's way up and has become popular throughout all age brackets. Hello Kitty designs can be found in a wide variety of products from cars, school supplies (notebooks, pencils, erasers, etc.), fashion accessories (bags, hair clips, bracelets, etc.), jewelry and many more, to the point it has released its own animated series and video game. Because of it's wide spread popularity, it's no surprise people have started to collect Hello Kitty products. Some probably did because of the popular trend (joining the bandwagon) that spiked an interest towards the character, but some have started collecting in order to relieve their nostalgia of the character.
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| Natasha Goldsworth and her Hello Kitty Collection Read more about it here |
Luckily today, Hello Kitty establishments are located all around the world to cater the fans and for their collection, but besides the nostalgia, it's still a challenge tracking them down. Most collectibles are not only hard to find, but expensive as well. It satisfies and gives you joy but nonetheless, puts a hole in your wallet. Bragging rights just come right after the hard work (and thrill) of finding the items that you have something others don't, but I think there's more to it; this isn't enough for them to be motivated to start their collection in the first place. Collectors should have basic interest towards the topic and starting a collection would definitely widen and deepen their curiosity.
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| Hello Kitty Land in Japan Source from Google Images |
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| Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae, Korea Source from Google Images |
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| Hello Kitty store in Japan Source from Google Images |
Besides the reasons of nostalgia and just interest as a hobby, a collection could do a good profit. Usually, collectibles increase value as time pass by because of its "antiqueness". As much as people would like to think that they are collecting for fun and out of their hobby, I'm sure at the back of their minds, they would secretly hope their collectibles would someday sell for big bucks, but it goes that not all collectibles would do so. It would, of course, depend on the market (supply and demand) and the condition of the item. Like cars and comics, for example. No matter what happens, cars would definitely sell less for second hand, considering the condition as well, regardless of how old. Comics, the way I see it, isn't any different though I know there are some exceptions to it. Plus, it would be harder to sell because of the saturated market it is into and the availability of soft copies in the internet wouldn't do any good to the seller as well.
In the end, collectors are starting their collection not for the sake of others, but for themselves. Gaining profit is besides the point. Collecting is for them to enjoy and feel happy about it!
