Baguio--City of Pines, Summer capital of the Philippines

See the sweater Aunt Nina is wearing?
See the knitted hat my niece Kazumi is wearing?
Later in the day, Taina (Cayetana) also ended up
putting her jacket, socks and sneakers on.

A jacket in August, only in Baguio!

The Mansion,
where the President of the Philippines and his/her family stay
when they're in Baguio. 

Many of the tourist spots in Baguio
 are named to honor various Americans
whose influence is still far reaching in the Philippines.

Built to imitate
"The Mall" in Washington D.C.

One of the attractions in Burnam Park, paddle or row boats.

People can also rent various types of bikes at Burnam Park. 

It had been 37 years since I visited Baguio.  The lion sits at the border, welcoming people.  People still stop and have their pictures taken.  It's a comfort knowing some things don't change.

Wednesday is... Market Day in Pililla

Every day one can go to the market to buy fresh produce, fresh meat, fresh fish.  However on Wednesdays, Pililla has "Chang-ge"! Many sellers who don't have stalls at the market on a daily basis set up tables.  It is a busier day since more people are seen at the market hoping to find bargains.  Clothing as well as household products, which are not available on other days, are sold on Market Day.

Free Lunch

Taina, owner, Ronnie

For those of you who know me well, you know I find joy in free lunches.  My cousin Ronnie and I lucked out on a free lunch yesterday.  We were getting ready to go to Manila when we saw this event.  Lunch included jello salad, beef stew, fish nuggets, fresh lumpia which are eggrolls.  They're called fresh because it is not fried.  The meat is cooked ahead of time and the veggies can be eaten raw.  Of course there was rice.

We were given gifts of t-shirt and umbrella.  Before we left I thanked the owner for the free lunch.  He told me it took two years of negotiations with city officials before he was able to build this gas station.  I congratulated him on his perseverance.

Life Cycle of Rice

Rice can now be planted three or four times a year.  These pictures were taken at different rice fields throughout Pililla.  I was waiting until I could see a farmer with his carabao, water buffalo, before posting because I believe it all starts with the carabao.

Harrowing the field, using the carabao.
I've seen some farmers use machinery.

 bundles of rice plants ready for planting

Rice plants individually planted.

young rice plants, around five days old

harvesting rice

Palay, rice still in its husk, is laid out to dry.
Afterwards it is milled.

storage rice bin

Cooking in the rice cooker.

staple food for most Asians

Tropical fruits

The first time I ate rambutan was in 2005
when I first returned to the Philippines as an adult
It is mostly grown in the southern island of Mindanao.
With the creation of the National Road
transport amongst the islands became easier. 

Rambutan is sweet with a huge seed inside, 
so there's not much to eat in each fruit.
It's a little bit crunchy.

This is the first time I've eaten mangosteen.
Grown in Mindanao, especially in Davao
mangosteen is known for its health benefits.
The outside skin is hard.
The inside is bitter, inedible as is.
Not all the segments have seeds so it's not difficult to eat.

Atis is white on the inside.  Each segment has seeds.
 It's delicious, but time consuming to eat.

mini guava
Pink on the inside with lots of seeds which can be eaten.
When not ripe it can be used for flavoring in soup. 

Preparing labong (bamboo shoots)

I challenge students using these pictures to write a step by step process in preparing this meal.  And as a nod to our French speakers, "Bon a petite!"

One of the tenants on my grandparents' properties cut down these bamboo stalks.  Uncle Cenon cut the bamboo stalks and sliced them.  Aunt Nina cooked the meal.  Cousin Ronnie, a member of the town council is pictured about to enjoy a meal