Have you ever seen a decoration your parents kept, carrying it with them from another country or a previous marriage? Carmina realized that parents often hold onto items they've purchased in the past. While browsing Greenhill's shopping center, she stepped into  Mystic Gems by Bensani  and saw so many nostalgic items that reminded her of growing up.  I pointed out to Mom Violy that she had a similar crystal tree decoration at home. She said it was forty years old and already dirty. The saleslady explained it could be cleaned easily with soap and water. Carmina decided to take Mom Violy home and bring the crystal tree decoration with her. Mom Violy questioned why she was taking it, and I said I would clean it and return it.  I noticed Mom Violy had placed planting seeds inside the decoration, for reasons I didn’t understand. Before cleaning it, I checked online to see what was needed, knowing its value. I placed a towel underneath, prepared a plastic container with dishwas...
Did you know there is a difference in mixed vegetables in the Philippines?  Dinengdeng and laswa came from Ilocos Law-oy came from Visayas and Mindanao Bulanglang came from Batangas Do you wonder what the difference on each four mixed vegetables? Dinenegdeng uses fried or grilled fish Laswa uses shrimp instead of fish. Bulanglang uses fried fish, tuna or bagoong The difference in Bulanglang is the vegetables are steamed along with patoloa, malunggay, okra, eggplant, amplaya, kalabasa, string beans and tomato. Bulanglang na Gulay ng Batangas Recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 Cup - Malunggay leaves 10 Pieces -  String beans (sliced) 3 Pieces - Eggplant (cut in half and sliced) 5 Pieces - Okra (cut the top and slice in the middle) 1 - Patola (sliced) 2 - Cups Kalabasa - squash (cubed) 2 - Ripe Tomato (wedged) 4 - Cloves Garlic (minced) 2 - Tbsp - Ginger (sliced) 1 - Knorr Cube (any flavor) 4 - Cup Water Patis (fish sauce) to taste Cooking Instructions: Step 1: Sauté garlic, onion and gin...