Sister Act

The movie schedule here in General Santos is relatively late compared to other major cities in the country, sometimes getting behind by more than 2 weeks. So after all reviews have been done on the movie, "In Her Shoes", here I am, fresh from just watching it 2 days ago.

It was supposed to be just a movie date with my hubby, not really expecting a "fantabulous" cinema experience. Just imagine my surprise when in most parts of the movie I couldn't stop the waterworks. My eyes were quite bloodshot when I went to the loo after watching the film.

There was a poignancy to the movie that really pinches at the heart. The fact that my only sister, Tintin, lives halfway around the world from me made it even more touching. Two sisters (played by Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette), different as night and day, one being the attractive but quirky and happy-go-lucky "dumb blonde", the other being the plain-looking, smart and successful lawyer, sharing only one thing in common - their shoe size.

It presented their individual weaknesses, fears and anxieties. Their brief estrangement from each other became the solution to their problems - with each one discovering her unique potential and worth. And in the end, realizing that no other person (not even the greatest guy you're about to marry) can replace a sister. It went beyond sisterhood by touching on family break ups, miscommunication and forgiveness --- things that hit very close to home for me.

Being a sucker for "tear jerker" type family movies, this one scores high for me. With Tintin's birthday coming up, "In Her Shoes" gave me the perfect idea for a birthday gift...

Tuna Carbonara (In My Kitchen #1)

Having yet to recover from the holiday hangover, I decided to finally make the Tuna Carbonara last weekend (it was supposed to be our media noche pasta last New Year's Eve but was too zonked to prepare it). Cooking is one way for me to relax, I enjoy it...I'm no expert but rather I go with my gut and experiment away. So don't expect any exact measurements because i don't usually measure. Anyway, I'm posting the recipe as part of "In My Kitchen"...

TUNA CARBONARA

Ingredients:

1/2 kg spaghetti noodles (cook according to package direction)

3 tbsp. olive oil

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1 can tuna chunk in water, flaked

1/4 cup button mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup corn kernels

1 small red bell pepper, chopped

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 box all purpose cream

italian seasoning

basil

salt and pepper

parmesan cheese, grated

red pepper flakes (optional)

Heat olive oil. Saute garlic and onions. Add bell peppers and tuna. Toss in mushrooms and corn kernels. Season with italian seasoning, dried basil, salt and pepper. Add in cream. Simmer for 3 minutes. You may add crushed red pepper flakes for extra zing. Take off from heat and pour over cooked pasta. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Bon appetit!

NPA (No Permanent Address)

It took me a while to finally sit down and give due attention to this blog. It has been in existence since last year but my knowledge on blogging was not enough to really make me post religiously. Besides, I didn't tell my friends about it yet since I felt there wasn't much to see, more so, to read. Anyway, inspired by the many blogs I visit quite often (the one of my cousin Mark included - *wink, wink*), you are now seeing the beginnings of a "home & family life-inspired" blog which chronicles my life at home away from home (explanation below).

Why "Home is where the Heart is?"

I felt choosing the appropriate blog title was essential in giving this online journal of mine character. It took a lot of thinking and when the phrase above ran through my mind, I knew I found the right one.

You see, I've now considered myself as an NPA...not part of the rebel group that the government is after, but rather a person with No Permanent Address. I spent most of my life in Quezon City - having been born there, residing and growing up there and getting my education from kinder to college in schools located there. When I began working 13 years ago, it facilitated my "moving out" of QC to the "world outside". From Pier 4 in Manila, I did the rounds of the metro by moving office bases to Makati and back to Taft in Manila. In 1998, I made a big leap by accepting a job in Cebu. Little did I know that this would begin my NPA status. Suffice to say, although my hometown would be considered to be QC, I was making quite a home nest in Cebu too. A testament to this would be finding the man of my dreams there and making another leap (this time of faith) by getting married. Four years later, I found myself at the bottom most part of the country - General Santos City...having to move here because of hubby's work assignment. With my Cebu stint already giving me confused signals as to where home is, can you imagine what another move made me feel (I have difficulty filling up the "residence" portion of any kind of application form)? In March, we will mark our 4th year here in Gen San and surprisingly, I find myself calling this home (away from home - QC, away from home - Cebu). This is where my son, Jarred was conceived and born and where a lot of the more significant events involving marriage and family life have happened. Do I still get confused whenever asked where home is? No. My confusion before stemmed from the fear that I didn't have roots in my adoptive cities. But my stay in Cebu, no matter brief, has enabled me to establish roots there thru my marriage and thru the friendships I developed there. Same here in Gen San. Looking back, I can see that I have left a piece of my heart in the places I've been to. I've left my mark there. And home is where my heart is - family, relatives, friends. And no matter where else I go, be it here or abroad, I am sure to make my home because I will always carry these treasures of home with me.

Hmmm...I wonder where the future will take us next....can you guess?