My Red Crape Myrtle ( Banaba) Now in Full Bloom

 

In spite of the extreme heat, my red crape myrtle is in full bloom. Notice the brown grass( dormant lawn), because I only water once a week to conserve. The grass will turn green next year when the rains start. Most of the lawns in this neighborhood are brown with exception of a few green lawn lunatics and those house-lawns with water-resistant ground covers. It is patriotic and wise to conserve water in this drought.

Crape Myrtle is known as Banaba in the Philippines. There are several color varieties ranging from white, light pink, dark pink, purple to dark red.   

Banaba, or Lagerstroemia speciosa, is a tree native to tropical Southeast Asia. It belongs to the genus Lagerstroemia, also known as Crape Myrtle .

The tree is widely distributed in India, Malaysia, and the Philippines, where it’s known as Jarul, Pride of India, or Giant Crape Myrtle.

Almost every part of the tree offers medicinal properties. For example, the bark is often used to treat diarrhea, while its root and fruit extracts are believed to have an analgesic, or pain-relieving, effect.

The leaves contain over 40 beneficial compounds, of which corosolic acid and ellagic acid stand out. Though the leaves offer a variety of benefits, their ability to lower blood sugar levels appears the most potent and sought after For Health Benefits of Banaba leaves read:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/banaba-leaf 

I have no pineapple fruit this season. The photo below was my pineapple plant last year in the pot in my front patio.

 

My Potted Pineapple this Year- No Fruit-just new growth 

 

The Third Party Movie- Filipino with English Subtitle

It had been almost a decade since I watched a Filipino movie. Last week I was tempted to a Filipino movie that have had financial success in the International Market. 

The film touches on the subject of same sex partner adoption, abortion, bisexuality, sexual fluidity, homosexuality and parental problems, Philippine immigration,  Filipino street food, childhood abandonment but is a comedy. 

I enjoyed the movie very much and recommend to all movie lovers of comedy with LGBT themes.  There are no mouth to mouth same sex kissing scenes but a number of moments of same sex tenderness, so it is not rated R. If you are craving for Philippines scenery and culture watch this movie.

Here's a summary from Wikipedia. 

The Third Party is a 2016 Filipino romantic comedy drama film starring Angel Locsin, Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo. It is directed by Jason Paul Laxamana from a screenplay written by Charlene Sawit-Esguerra and Patrick John Valencia.

The film was produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions and was theatrically released in Philippine cinemas on October 12, 2016, by Star Cinema.

The film marks Angel Locsin's second movie this year after Everything About Her, and serves a reunion for her and Zanjoe Marudo who both starred in the 2012 film One More Try; both films were also released by Star Cinema.

The story revolves between exes Andi, an events manager who aspires to be a fashion designer (portrayed by Angel) and Max, a cosmetic surgeon (portrayed by Sam) who both find ways to keep their relation intact after a breakup. But later on, Max finds new love with a gay Pediatrician, Christian (portrayed by Zanjoe). Andi gets pregnant (by Iñigo, portrayed by Paolo Paraiso, who abandons her) and the trio (Andi, Max, and Christian) forms a family. The film also tackles friendship and how a person gets to know more about himself. 

The film grossed ₱10 million on its first day. The film has been successful nationwide and worldwide, despite its genre, giving a boost to the LGBT community. The Third Party reached the 100 Million mark in its 3rd week of showing, joining other successful films that reached 100 Million.

As of April 2019, the movie is available in the United States and elsewhere on Netflix.

Awards

Award Giving Body	Recipient	Award	Result
19th Gawad PASADO Awards	Zanjoe Marudo	PinakaPASADOng Katuwang na Aktor	Won
33rd PMPC Star Awards for Movies	Zanjoe Marudo	Movie Actor of the Year	Nominated

Meanwhile here's a list of 18 popular movies with LGBT theme on Netflix. 

https://www.lifewire.com/best-lgbt-movies-on-netflix-right-now-5069913

 

 

The Ten Types of Most Popular Sauces

Tzatziki Sauce- Photo Credit- menuprice.com

Last week, I posted the three sauces that I recently used for my empanadas and dumplings. This article is on the 10-types of the most popular sauces. If you are a Food enthusiast you are probably familiar with all of them. 

The list below are the 10 most popular sauces according to the menuprice.com

How many of these sauces are you using? I have used all nine of them. The only sauce I have not tried is #4-Tzatziki*. This is the first time I heard of the sauce. The following article from the blog of menuprice.com is very informative.

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Sauces are liquid or semi-liquid forms of food served with various food dishes in different cuisines. It's also used while making food recipes that give taste, flavor and textures to the final food products. Some of the sauces are an essential ingredient in some food recipes to bring the specific taste and flavor. Soy sauce is predominantly used in Japanese cuisines. In addition, they’re also used in salad dressing as well as side dishes. Commonly used sauces include hot sauce, sriracha sauce, tomato sauce and ketchup.

1. Hot Sauce
2. Sriracha Sauce
3. BBQ Sauce
4. Tzatziki Sauce
5. Buffalo Sauce
6. Tomato Sauce
7. Bolognese Sauce
8. Hoisin Sauce
9. Worcestershire Sauce
10. Garlic Sauce
11.  *Tzatziki Sauce is an Ottoman origin sauce made from salted strained yogurt mixed with olive oil, salt, garlic, cucumbers and herbs. It is also served as a cold appetizer and side dish. With its long history of evolution, different varieties of Tzatziki Sauce are seen from Turkish cacik to Balkan Tartar and jajeez in Middle East countries.
12. Not included in the List are my favorites,- Picante ( Medium), A-1 for Steaks and Hollandaise Sauce. 
    

For complete details read:  

 https://menuprice.co/blog/top-10-types-of-popular-sauces

For a List of Common Seasonings and Flavoring Ingredients read:

https://www.johnnyskitchen.us/professional-cooking/common-seasoning-and-flavoring-ingredients.html 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my Pompano Fish

 

 

Looking Forward for My First Okra Harvest This Year

You either Love or Hate Okra! Are you a Lover or a Hater?

My First Red Okra Bud this Year-Can you See it?

Last March, I ordered red/burgundy okra seeds on line. I have still seeds from my regular okra( green) that I saved last summer. Red Okra is an example of an edible ornamental. It is one of my favorite vegetable along with ampalaya.

This year I planted both the regular Green and Red Okra Varieties. I ordered the seeds from Beyond Organic Seeds. Only one green variety survived from the jay birds attacked and summer extreme heat on the seedlings but seven healthy red variety survived and looks very healthy (photo below).

The only green okra is on the right of the photo- the leaves have no purple center and veins.

Okra fruits must be harvested young. My simplest recipe is just sauteed it in olive oil the slice okra with onions, and shrimp paste with a trace of vinegar. 

  

What does red/burgundy okra taste like?

Red okra are torpedo shaped and range from two to five inches long. Offering a unique flavor and texture, the fresh taste is somewhere between eggplant and asparagus. When cooked, however, the red color disappears and the pods turn green.

Here are my favorite recipes for Okra.

https://myfavoritepinoydishes.blogspot.com/2019/09/an-easy-recipe-for-baked-okra.html 

Remember, He/She that Gardens rule the World. 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my collection:

Young Carenna and I enjoying the beach and sunset of Amoingon Beach, Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

 

 

 

My Grand Daughter, Alix Katague Engagement to Brendan Quinn

My grand daughter Alix Katague, oldest daughter of my oldest son, Dodie, posted some photos in her FaceBook page yesterday announcing her engagement to Brendan Quinn. I have prior knowledge of this event (3-days ago). I am flattered that I was informed ahead before the public announcement. Again, my congratulations to this handsome couple. Here are some photos of this memorable event in my aging years. Sending hugs/love to both of you, Lolo! 

Alix and Brendan were classmates at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and are currently residing in San Francisco, California. Both have Bachelor Degrees in Computer Science & Engineering.  A very, very happy Lolo, indeed!

Below are the linkedIn sites of Alix and Brendan respectively:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alixkatague/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjohnquinn/ 

Here's Alix Photo from her FB page.

Brendan's family resides in Long Island, NY. I learned recently that Brendan's Mom maiden name is Caruana originally from Malta. I have a Facebook friend originally from Malta who is also a Caruana, now residing in Marinduque- my second home.  Small world, indeed!
 

My 6 grand children photo taken 12/20/14

From Left to Right: Carenna, Elaine, Ian, Philip, Alix and Marina

 

 

Most Popular Article in My Blogs- I Love Sunsets

Sunset from Balcony of the Beach House (CDM), Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, 2011

While searching and analyzing some of my older postings in my blogs, I noticed that one of my posting "I love Sunsets" had as of today more than 6,500 views. I am reposting this blog for those who have not seen it. If you love sunsets, this is a must see posting.
 

The other day, Elaine Lazarte Chaflin posted on her Face Book Page - a sunset photo of the Amoingon Bay with driftwoods in the background. I am also sharing it with you. Makes me homesick of Chateau Du Mer.

"Over the years, I have seen and photographed several dozens of sunsets in several countries that my wife and I have visited. We have been to Marbella, Spain, Rome, Italy, London,England, Vancouver, B.C., Cancun, Mexico, Aruba, Hawaii( Maui, Kawaii, Big Island), Puerto Rico and most of the US big cities, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis, Miami, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and other small cities.

But the two most beautiful sunsets that stirs my emotion are the one at Amoingon Bay ( taken at the balcony of our Chateau Du Mer Beach house-photo above) and the one over Manila Bay(# 9 photo in the posting below)".

Eight other sunset photos are in the link below:

https://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-love-sunsets-how-about-you.html

Meanwhile here's a photo of Batman & Robin- my 2 cuties keeping me company these days.

https://planningtovisitthephilippines.blogspot.com/2022/06/how-pets-can-fight-loneliness-on.html