Feast to warm the heart

Mibantug ya, meragul ya, menakitan ya at lalaganap ya pa ing Facebook uling ikwa na la lingapngap deng keraklan at gewa na iting punan bang tumubu’t manakitan kata-katang alang patugut. Ing punan nay a pin ing pangamakasarili da reng tau. Buri dang pakit malagu la, byasa la, sikat la, masikan la, mayupaya la, mabandi la, pibuburyan la… uling dyos la— agya mang e da sabyang lantaran ita.

Ay, manakit ta palang sasabyan da “dyosa” la. Ala lang dusing, peklat, lumpis, bukul o dalyawat lalto kareng larawan da uling pantas la— dyos la! Papakit da ing ala lang kapintasan. Balang metung antita. Balang metung isipan da ala lang nanu mang kapintasan.

Pangamakasarili. Iti ing kamalyan a maging salad a ring tau a maging katuliran da bang nanu mang makasalabat king daralanan da malyari dang dakurakan, paldakan, ibalugse o ambisna paten nung iti o ya o ila ring sumbagal king kapagnasan tamu. Para king taung makasarili ya mu in gating katuliran king sablang bage akakit na at ya ing libutad ding sabla inya ya ing dudurutan da ring segana-ganang bage.

Nung magsalita ka salang kareng makasarili— palmuran na ka, kalkalan

WE ARE experiencing a cruel kind of cold these past few days, with the coldest recorded temp this morning in Baguio City reportedly at 7.4 degrees. I am not one to complain about cold weather because I ‘heart’bed weather, but we are literally going through a crazy one this past week – with cool air and warm sunshine in midday, then biting cold in the late afternoon and evening. I guess it’s high time for those concoctions that can lift dampened spirits due to cold weather, or due to colds, or both.

Good old chicken soup. The bestselling series of feel-good stories in anthologies was not titled “Chicken Soup for the Soul” for nothing. Chicken soup is still the ultimate comfort food for the ailing, for the sad, and even for the brokenhearted (as claimed by some, hearsay for me). My favorite version of this soup for the soul is a very simple broth, with asparagus, tiny carrot cubes, and one whole na mu naman ing para kaya buluk mu migit pa king akalkal mung buluk na. Nung apamakarine me o adusingan me dangalan, agyang ala man kaniti, e na ka mu palmuran at pikasaman, isumpa na ka o mekad ipapate na ka. Uling pin isipan da ila mung atin katuliran ligaya, ninu mang sumbagal king ligaya da buri da mabating e mu king arapan da nung e keti king mabilug a labwad.

Inya pin ating maglaglag pungul kareng babai o lalaking dinapat bage e karapatdapat dapot kabud mikabunga na— buri dam abating king bye ra king nanu man, makananu man o magkanu mang paralan. Inya pin ating mangamate pauli ning kule tiny piece of spring onion, with a dash of salt and sesame oil (note to self: what’s the “very simple broth” with that?)

Champorado with tuyo. When I first mentioned this combination to my girls, they looked at me as though I had gone mad. They take theirs only with evap/ powdered milk and sugar, and sometimes they get an earful from us for not being adventurous enough when it comes to food. But champorado and tuyo is one perfect combination, and warms the soul on cold or rainy days.

Oatmeal with raisins. One of the easiest comfort meals to prepare, and probably ranks high, health-wise. Both dang balat at ating mamayaran bang paten da la reti uli ning kapanwalang ila mu ding ating katulirang ligaya keti king masala.

Ing kaparatutan ding mapilan a maging sangkan inya isipan da ila mung makatud at ating karapatang magpasya para karing sabla ya ing sangkan inya ating pangmarakalang patayan. Nung mika-upaya la ring taung anti reti kanita mikakapanganib king mabilug a kabalantyan, bangsa o mabilug a yatu. Papasyas da’t pasamul karing aliwa ing karelang kapanwalan, makatud man o ali, uling kapanwalan da ilang ating katuliran at upaya bang magdala king isip da mayap a pamagbayu.

*** Dake Talabaldugan: 1. kalabyang – (palagyu) kabag, talibatab a maragul, paniki. English – species of large bats. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Deng ikit dang kalabyang king lumang kamalig singdagul na lang pusa.”

2. kalakal – (palagyu) pamisali, lalaku, baliwas. English – merchandise, items for sale. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Gewa nang kalakal Tekla ing kakalunusan de at ya nang kayang pagkabye iti.” grains and raisins boost your energy, so this one is a real winner to aid you during cold season.

Oven-fresh pandesal and butter. Just the scent of freshly-baked bread is enough to warm my heart. That and brewed coffee, although I am not so much a fan of drinking brewed coffee, I just really love the scent.

If you are not much of an eater (and if so, you are officially the object of my envy), then you can go for drinks for the soul. For those down with the flu, or suffering from coughs and colds, there is that magic brew of lemon and honey in warm water. If you are not afflicted with any of those but are just feeling down and out, and feeling so low (wait, that’s an old song… ), then just get yourself a cup of coffee or plain old tea. I love Kopiko 3-in-1 (better than expensive brews that make me dizzy) and plain lemon grass tea.

Stay warm and enjoy the bed weather!

REFLECTING truth and grace as we relate with difficult people is what we need to learn from Philip just as he modeled it in his dealings with Nathanael. After His brief encounter with Jesus whom Philip believed to be the Messiah, Philip remarkably reflected grace and truth as he dealt with Nathanael. “Come and see” was all he said. Let us be excited to learn these lessons in relating … most especially with people who are very difficult to live with.

Apparently, Philip was not agitated by the sarcastic response of Nathanael with regards his discovery about the Messiah. As the youth of today would say... He was so ‘chill.’Being ‘chill’ while others are sarcastic is an amazing A (attitude) I need to learn myself. I guess the more you draw close to Jesus, the greater the chances you will reflect grace!

It is good to know why the town of Nazareth invited much trouble unto itself and was considered to be the source of trouble to many. Nazareth, and the people there, was considered traitors by the larger percentage of the Jewish population. It was the town of Nazareth that accommodated a garrison of soldiers from Rome. Similarly, the town of Macabebe, in Pampanga, was looked down upon by many Pinoys during the early days of Philippine history because they became instruments for the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo by the Americans. If Nazareth was offensive, added to that was the fact that Jesus was just the son of a carpenter. That is the background of Nathanael’s remarks. Honestly, it is a plus when you are aware of the back-scene story, it is supposed to give you a reason to be extra gracious.

Amazingly, in spite of all of these fireworks, Philip calmly responded with the words “Come and See”. We should not miss the wisdom of knowing the difference between just having a good conversation versus an arrogant attempt to manipulate a spiritual conversion. Trying to convert others is God’s work and not ours. Philip invited ... he did not insist. He gave space for people to respond, and a much bigger space to respect their convictions. We should be more open to dialogue rather than be super-quick to debate. I am pretty sure that the attitude of Philip reflected GRACE & TRUTH.

Think about this... How many people are there who may not agree with our Christian faith, yet are willing to take a second look at it simply because, like Philip, we, too, have learned to say “Come and See...” reflecting grace is a long journey and if we just keep at it, in due time, it will be harvest time. In the meantime, keep saying and living a life that says “Come and See.”

Thank you for reading... I always write from my heart.

3. kalakati – (palagyu) panalip at pamangal luyus bang isamut keng mama. English – nutcracker, shearlike tool used in betel nuts. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “E ne kakawaning Tasing ing kalakati keng palyapugan na agyang nanu mang malyari.”

4. kaladkad¹ – (palagyu) igut, taguyud o taginis gamit ing gamat. English – the act of pulling violently or dragging along. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Masikan ya pa kaladkad ing matwang damulag keng karetang kisnang pale.”

5. kaladkad² – (palagyu) guyuran, bage tataguyud, kakaladkaran o igutan. English – something that is being dragged. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Buri neng dili kareng sablang pyalungan na ing kaladkad a gewa na ning tata na.”

*** PAMANGAPAMPANGAN: Ing kasebyan da reng makatwa kareng kayanakan o ninu mang mantun dapot ala lang patugut kakatak— “Deng mata ilang manintun aliwa ing asbuk”— metung yang sisting tutu naman. Maralas kasi mumuna pa ing terku kesang keng pamamintu uling e la bisang tuknang keng gagawan da maralas pyalung lalu na ngeni computer games o Facebook. Tanda namu ning katamaran at kelangkaburyan kimut bang tukyan ing utus da reng pengari. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Pakapanintun meng masalese ing susi kareng lalam-lalam at suluk-suluk, Bitoy— deng mata ilang manintun, aliwa ing asbuk, ne.”

*** Agkatan da kang mambag o midake nanu mang Kapampangan a kawatasan, sanese, sisti, kasuryan o nanu mang dikil king Kapampangan. Nanu mang kutang o sisti king misulat king Kapisik, malyaring ikutang o malinawan king talasulat. Pakiparala king email address, garciakragi@yahoo.com o iyaus o i-text king + 639988948624 o + 639423924399. Nung karapatdapat ya’t makayagpang king dalerayang tuntunang Kapisik, masa kang mirinang kapakibatan at milimbag ya sanu man kareng tutuking dangka ning Kapisik. Ipisik me, abe!