STK Ta Bay! Paolito's Seafood House

My brother, two cousins and I, had dinner in another SuTuKil (Sugba-Tula-Kilaw) type of restaurant, STK ta Bay. It is in A. Climaco Street (former Orchid Street), Capitol Site, Cebu City. They have two buildings, one is next-door neighbor of Bucket Shrimp (read the blog entry here) and the other one is across the street.

We first went inside the newer building, but all the tables were taken, so we crossed the street to check if there were vacant tables in the other building. If there were none, we would have ended in Bucket Shrimp (which was originally the plan where to have dinner). Thank God, there was a vacant table for four! My concern was how long it would take the food to arrive, because I was so famished! We did not have to wait long. Good sigh.

I was sure my eyes popped out of their sockets when I noticed the decorations. All over the area, on shelves and walls, antiques were displayed neatly. I was like, “Oh my god, we had those and those and those…” mentally pointing at the objects I had seen in my childhood. Old transistor radios! Gas lamps! Manual sewing machine! Wooden wall clocks! Old telephones! I did some jumping jacks in my head and felt like a five year old taking them all in, like I was knowing them for the first time. Lol.

Rock, rock, 'round the clock!

My heart sang when I (finally) noticed that most of the furniture are made of wood. I hope I did not look like a fish with the mouth open. Lol. Boy, the old soul in me was so glad being in a room filled with woods and old articles.

Uh, she's doing what I was doing. Look, green telephone!

There were long rectangular tables that could seat 10-12 persons. From near us, was a circular table that seated six persons. Most of the tables are for four persons. They also have tables outside, if you want to dine al fresco.

1.) My shy cousin. 2.) One of the long tables. 3.) Window panels are made of wood and Capiz shells.

We had Grilled Tuna Panga (Grilled Tuna Jaw), Fish Tinola (Fish Soup), Kinilaw with Gata (Raw Fish Salad with Coconut Cream), Guso Salad (Eucheuma Seaweed Salad ) and 2 platters of plain rice (I learned later that their Bagoong Fried Rice was to die for…maybe next time).

Kinilaw with Gata

Grilled Tuna Panga

Guso Salad

Fish Soup. The one we had was loaded with alugbati leaves (Malabar spinach)

I have to say that the four-person table was a bit small for four persons. With 2 platters of rice, (understandable) huge plate of grilled fish, fish stew in a wider bowl (that took most of the space), two servings of fresh starters, 1.5 liter of Coke, glasses, saucers (for the sauce) and condiments, our table was packed! Another caution, you have to ask for table napkins because there was none on the table (maybe it was just our table... maybe an overlook [a slight one you can brush off] on their part... maybe it just happened at that time...).

We had a quick dinner because my brother was going to work and I was so hungry I kept on eating until I had my fill (don't judge me, lol), so I was not able to take pictures of our little feast. But it kinda looked like this:

Some plateful experience.

STK ta Bay has a wide selection in the menu list. It is open from 8 A.M.  to 10 P.M.

The interior decoration, I could not fully describe it with my words. You have to be there to appreciate it and it will be worth your time. I'm sure the diners, local and foreign (that had been there) would agree with me on this. If it happens you want to travel to Cebu City, this place should must be in your list. :)

The Curious Case Of Apolinario Mabini In The Modern Era

There was a post in someone’s Facebook that went viral in lieu of the showing of “Heneral Luna”. I found it amusing that an important figure in history, Apolinario Mabini (A.M.), was lost to the younger generation, which should not be, because his role in reshaping the Philippines was vital, even if he was on his wheelchair.

The girl asking her boyfriend why A.M. was on his chair all throughout the movie roused netizens to mock her, that she should have paid attention to her history class, stressing further the need for less internet time and selfie indulgence. They may seem separate arguments, the time spend online may not be the cause of her ignorance. However, the fact that a teenager asked it and considering there is an abundance of information, what then the youth has been doing with it. Obviously, there was negligence on her part and forgetting a Philippine hero is quite unforgivable and, every re-share compounds the crime (imagine that in thousands). How then are the younger generations behaving in this digital era?

On the other hand, the one who posted it on her wall could have not posted it, but that was her prerogative. In a sense, it brought something good. It became a point of discussion. It raised awareness on everyone the importance of history, individual responsibility and medium of communication. How everyone is going to take it from there however, remains to be seen.

There was an interesting point my friend raised when we discussed about the viral post. He said that maybe the girl knew about Apolinario Mabini, but her recollection of him as polio-victim hero on a wheelchair was not deeply rooted, because polio has been contained (thanks to medicine!) and there are not many victims around on wheelchairs she could associate with the disease. It could be the case.

Still…

Excuses do not make blunders right.

--------------------

This period in history, wherein almost all information is available in a stroke of a finger, we should feel lucky. Bless are the souls who revolutionized the digital universe. They make life easy! From the ways of tying shoes to the big bang of the universe, the internet provides million links in a matter of seconds and all one needs to do is choose which one of the links provides the closest information to what he or she is looking for. We do not even need to exert much effort.

Gone are the days when students have to make a queue in the library to make reservations on the assigned reading materials. They do not need to wait for hours or days of the availability (because someone else have it before them and forgot to return) of the reserved books.  They do not need to rush to the library after class to find answers to their assignments, nor do they need to stay for hours inside the library because the reference materials they are using are not to be taken out. They do not need to borrow books from classmates or friends, either.  All these considered, it is a good thing. Less time spend on research would mean a spare time for other (valuable) pursuits.

However, it promotes dependency. In the context of personal growth, it is not exactly commendable. It reduces the ability to be resourceful. If not lost, the ability to be analytical has also lessened.  Most are contented to accept information at face value and mistake it for a fact, without making further and deeper dig on the subject.  Why should they, if it is in the internet, it must be true, right?

With progress, have we become shallower individuals? We feed on gossips, showbiz news, and faster trends. We are indulgent: selfie, shoefie, bagfie, and etc-fies. Some correlate their worth with the likes they get. Some revolve their lives in social media. Does it fill what is missing in our lives? We can deny it if we must, but it has become the reality. And the youth is catching faster on it.

With too much information, I do not know though if this period has depth that could seduce the future minds, whether it has the same allure and enigma that draw us to the history of the past.

I hope so. 

Humanity, More Than Ever

War is everywhere. Innocent people are dying, caught in the crossfire of factions fighting to push their own truths (no matter how perverse the truths are). Millions of people are displaced - a Diaspora like no other - driven from their own home, seeking refuge in other countries, even where they are not welcome. It is easy to focus on the beauty this world can offer, but it is harder to ignore atrocities.

Few days ago, when I tuned in to CNN, there was a woman and a man lost in their grief. The woman was rocking herself back and forth while sitting on the pavement and crying without tears. The man was singing in lamentation with eyes close, held by another man. Both were parents. Both lost their children from the bombing in Ankara. It broke my heart in thousand of ways and, made me think of my parents and my future children.

The extent of evil one can do - in the name of religion, in defense of ideas, in pursuit of power, in claiming autonomy. It is unthinkable.

Do they ever reflect what is right from wrong? Were they even aware of the consequences of their actions? Desecrating their homeland by destroying thousand year-old architectures and beating and killing their people to instill fear, is a death of a culture.  Terrorism is selfish. It is cowardice.  It is bullshit.

To make it worse, some people commercially thrive on war and fatten their bank accounts.

Man is born with inherent goodness. When and where then the character got twisted.

In my opinion, only the weak yield to wickedness.

Mercury Retrograde, Are You Not Done Yet?

Mercury retrograde, it's the phenomenon of the year when the planet Mercury moves in opposite direction of the planet Earth. But, it's an optical illusion.

It is similar to the one you experience when you're in a car on the highway moving faster than a train alongside you. The train appears to be moving backward, but it's just moving more slowly than you are. The same thing happens when our planet passes Mercury in our orbit around the sun. Mercury is just moving slower than Earth, causing the illusion that it's moving in retrograde.

This year, 2015, Mercury is retrograde from...

January 21st to February 11th

May 19th to June 11th

September 17th to October 9th

With the dates of the retrograde mentioned above, I should be thankful that my birthday does not fall to any of the dates. Geez, I now get what's up with the Geminis and Virgos (signs ruled by Mercury). Oops. But, Cancer has its issues being a water sign and ruled by the moon, and we're also hard to figure out (they said)... So, go figure!

Apparently, according to Astrologists, Mercury seems to impact people in most ways than the other planets (which also retrograde):

It’s because Mercury rules communication, clear thinking, truth and travel, so when the planet goes retrograde — which means that it looks like it’s going backwards in the sky — all those things go backwards. They start to get ugly and tangle up.

However,

Even people who “don’t believe in astrology” often “believe” in the crazy aftershocks of Mercury retrograde!

That's a half-relief.

It seems that when the planet is in retrograde, we're caught up with our "shadows", the less appealing side of our being, but it's the best time for "introspection" and to be more attentive to details of the important matters (we're dealing with).

The retrograde cycle tends to reveal what is not working properly, and although it can contribute to delays and frustrations, it can also reveal issues that are important to resolve, fix or address.

It is actually a very good time to deal with what has been put on the back burner, or to finish what had already been started much earlier.

It is a good time for reflective and creative writing, inner work, journaling, spiritual work and completing long overdue tasks.

So, if you want to know the Mercury Retrograde is with messing your life and you want to survive it, you can cross-check with the following:

http://thoughtcatalog.com/jamie-varon/2014/10/17-signs-this-mercury-retrograde-is-really-fcking-with-you/

http://galadarling.com/article/how-to-survive-mercury-retrograde/

My system is under par these last few days. So maybe next year, I'll have a memory of these repeating: down immune system, zit breakout, over-thinking, sinful desire to cut my long tresses like that of Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago, or maybe, Josie Natori's (because with the right sass (lol), short hair can be seeexaay [lol]).  For the record, I'm telling the truth. Really.

Maybe, I should check the dates for next year's Mercury retrograde.

To get ready.

Yes, for real.

LOL.

Really, I'm serious.

LOL.


On a serious note, for more scientific explanation of the phenomenon, here's Wiki and more of Wiki.


Sources:
1. http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/what-does-mercury-retrograde-mean
2. http://galadarling.com/article/how-to-survive-mercury-retrograde/
3. http://www.astrologyhoroscopereadings.com/2013-mercury-retrograde-calendar.html
4. http://www.astrologyhoroscopereadings.com/2014-mercury-retrograde-calendar.html
5. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question46.html
6. http://astrology.about.com/od/advancedastrology/p/MercuryRetro.htm
7. http://www.lynnkoiner.com/astrology-articles/retrograde-planets-lecture-notes

Don't Forget To Breath. Literally.

When we're going through something - work-related, relationship, family, etc. - our mind is wired to wholly focus on the concern for the reason that we want it to be done and over with. Unfortunately, time can be excruciatingly slow when the solution is not immediately available or possible and the process of waiting is stressful. Although we can control our thoughts and divert our focus on other things, we still find ourselves going back to what is bothering us until we find solution/s to address our concern. It's inevitable that emotions are involved in the thought process. Our mind thinks, but our emotions are synchronized with our thoughts.

More often than not, we unconsciously hold our breath (if you haven't noticed before, maybe you would now). We may be breathing with our nose, but there's the suspension of breathing in our stomach. That, plus the feeling of being upset, or angry, or bitter, or disappointed, and other rational, but negative emotions -- and think that in increment for days-- the end-result could jeopardize our health. Chest congestion, back pain, tensed muscles, fever, asthma - do they ring a bell?

When you notice your stomach, that hollow part just a little (probably 2-3 inches) below  the sternum, getting harder, you're not having your desired rock-hard abs (lol). It's a sure-sign that you have to take stock what you have been thinking and where your thoughts are leading you. If you ignore it, you could suffer the consequences of the uncontrolled thoughts. Don't compound the stress by getting sick from unchecked thoughts and emotions. Medical bills are high, and please, don't speed the degeneration of your body. Life is beautiful, streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch it for as long as you can.

Stop your thoughts. You know, MIND OVER MATTER. And take a deep breath, inhale with your nose and exhale with your mouth. Repeat the process until you notice that oxygen (as if you could notice the oxygen's movement, but you get my drift, hopefully...) is circulating freely in your brain and lungs (sorry, I don't know how to fully describe this clinically, but maybe my sisters [who are in med school] could...maybe I should have them as guests in my blog). It's not the solution to everything, but it's a start to think rationally again, this time with clearer head.

I found some great reads (no medical jargon, so the dullard like me is quite ecstatic) to fully understand the relationship of the mind and bodies. These may be of help:

https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/07/20/esther-sternberg-balance-within-stress-emotion/

https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/06/23/nothing-jo-marchant-heal-thyself/

http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/emotional-wellbeing/mental-health/mind-body-connection-how-your-emotions-affect-your-health.html

Stay healthy! And positive! And alive! :)