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Love is all we need

TAKE TWO

Ambet R. Nabus

02/12/2009

When ABS-CBN senior correspondent Bernadette Sembrano told us about an episode she made for The Correspondents, we could not believe that such thing could still happen in this day and age.

Bernadette shared the story of Indo, a man who allegedly went crazy due to pasma and was locked up in a makeshift cell by his family. We have heard of stories of schizoprenia and the like, but never about pasma.

Pasma is a Filipino folk illness characterized by hand tremors, sweaty palms and numbness caused by the exposure of body muscles to cold water or air immediately after strenuous activity.

This condition allegedly drove Indo out of his mind, which drove the people around him to lock him up.

“Maaawa ka talaga,” noted Bernadette, adding that it is an alarming situation in the country.

The story was part of the show’s Valentine offering (which was aired last Tuesday), which included the stories of two other “victims” who suffered a similar fate. Fe was ill with postpartum depression, while Badette suddenly became agitated and started talking to herself after her boyfriend left her.

“All three didn’t get the treatment they need to be well; instead, they were chained and detained in their respective cells,” narrated Bernadette.

That’s why in said episode, she tries to find out why many other Filipinos with mental illnesses share the same horrid condition. “Para kasing dumarami na ang mga ganitong sitwasyon. May mga nagsasabing dala ng kahirapan o kakulangan ng kaalaman sa mga ganitong bagay o puwede ring kapabayaan ng mismong mga kapamilya o nagmamahal sa kanila,” Bernadette said.

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The unrelenting love for local Pinoy favorites is evident in the way Filipinos eat. It is not because Pinoys are not adventurous. It’s just that Pinoy dishes such as adobo, bulalo, torta and kare-kare invoke memories of home and family. Plus, they’re just plain yummy!

Enter Season 4 of Q Channel 11’s Quickfire, the 10-minute kitchen wonder. Quickfire will present recipes that fit one underlying theme: Making the most of local Pinoy favorites, be it whole dishes or a beloved local ingredient, and putting a twist to them, such as an alternative main ingredient.

Get ready to sample chef mom Rosebud Benitez’s Mechadong Lamb Chops, Tawilis Okoy, Tofu Pinakbet and Tortang Talong with Crabmeat. She will also show viewers how to enjoy sinigang, shabu-shabu style!

Pinoys have also welcomed international cuisine to their dinner tables. And the Quickfire kitchen is no different as it will also feature dishes that are foreign in nature (such as pasta, kabobs, etc) but will have at least one local ingredient such as Vigan Longganisa Pasta, Tinapa-Potato Pate (that’s Tinapa and Potato Pate!), Smoked Salmon with Quesong Puti Panini and Scallop Kabobs with Pinakurat Dressing.

Leftover dishes also get the spotlight this season. In the Quickfire kitchen, leftovers get a delicious makeover! After all, waste not, want not. Chef Rosebud will whip up Ravioli-style Laing, Paella burrito, Fried Adobo Flakes sandwich and Pasta Pinangat. Less than 10 minutes is all it takes.

Catch Quickfire on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (10:30 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.); Wednesdays and Thursdays (10:30 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 5:50 p.m. and 7 p.m.); Saturdays (8:45 p.m.); and Sundays (8:30 p.m.) only on Q Channel 11.

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And speaking of yummy (hahahaha, forgive the term), that was exactly the scene most of us witnessed when Sen. Mar Roxas met his friends from the media some weeks back. This, aside from the very, very sumptous dinner the senator’s family prepared for their friends.

Wow, to have cousins like Veanna and chef Gaita Fores (of Cibo and Cafe Bola) is indeed glorious.

But talking about the senator’s display of yummy-ness to ateng Korina (and this has nothing to do with the senator’s look or “hunk-iness’), we commend him for being a real gentleman. He is “marespeto, may sariling humor, sincere at umaaming feeling bagets paminsan-minsan” especially during the course of their daily text messaging.

The two have been ‘on’ for five years now and since both are so busy with their respective jobs, the much-awaited wedding bells will not be heard soon. “But not naman that long kaya hindi naman tayo maiinip lahat,” reacted Senator Roxas, who simply acted ordinary that night. We have been to many a gathering and event where they atended as a couple, and nothing has ever changed with the way they treat each other.

In the said gathering, Korina was simply a supportive girlfriend who was there to assist and listen and interact. “Girlfriend ang role niya dito at hindi bilang isang Korina Sanchez, the media personality. Medyo may mga rules kasi sa network niya kaya kailangan nasa sideline lang siya,” said a common friend of the two when we prodded the fiesty lady journalist to share stories of her romance with Senator Roxas.

Good thing he had plenty to tell including his ongoing program on cheaper medicines. “There is already a law on this, pero kailangan pa ring dagdagan ang regulatory measures. Sabi ko nga dun sa TV ad, na dapat kulitin ang gobyerno sa pagkakaroon ng mas maraming botika ng bayan,” he said.

And how are they going to celebrate their Valentine’s Day?

“Maybe we will watch the Sheena Easton concert and, as you said, we will long for the yummy food, which my cousins could prepare,” replied Senator Roxas.