SJMISF celebrates 24th anniversary foundation

Saint Joseph Montessori Integrated School Foundation celebrates it's 24th year in providing quality education to the people of San Mateo Rizal by hosting '' Run for your Lives 2012'' on February  25 2012,a 3k and 5k run/walk marathon. SJMISF was founded by Mrs. Rosita V. Torres in 1988, from it's humble beginnings and has now grown to be one of the pillars in education.

The event was spearheaded by Mr. Joselito Torres (board of trustee) through the help of  the faculty of SJMISF. According to Mr. Torres " this is the first time that we held an event like this, and I'm glad that the parents and students gave their full support''. The run was highlighted by Mr. Robert Gascon  aka ''Rio'' from Fitness Republic gym and by Mrs. Anne Divino ( Academic chairman SJMISF).  

Mr. Robert Gascon ( Fitness Republic) gave the runners instructions on  warming up before running 

the trail going to Timberland

Mr Lito Torres (in yellow shirt) with runners and parents

The event closed with the awarding of the top 10 runners and with the inspirational talk from Mrs. Rosita V. Torres . Students, parents and faculties, will be looking forward next year for an event like this to be held.  SJMISF has provided an activity for families,faculties and students to bond and as a means to promote a healthy lifestyle. But more importantly, to be one ''JOSEPHIAN'' family...

Silog, a Filipino favorite

A typical Filipino favorite breakfast consist of combining these three items, 1) Sinangag- Which is the garlic rice 2) Itlog - fried egg  3) Tapa - beef. However as long as you have the sinangag and the egg you will always have SILOG, you can either combine other foods with SILOG. One favorite, is combining it with Hotdog , you have HOTSILOG. Combine it with TAPA, you get TAPSILOG, the variations are endless as long as you have  SILOG. The name TAPSILOG came about in the early 80's from a sitcom and it always have been a comfort food for Filipinos.

This is a typical combination with silog

Hotsilog

     

Tapsilog

Longsilog

For me there is this one favorite food joint to get Silog no other than Kitchen King, not the fancy type of restaurant. But it always reminds me of home cooked meals. Owned and manged by a close friend , the place were the ''Barkadas'' meet almost everyday after work and relax.  Do you have a place that you always hangout with friends? 

  

Bangungut a mystery?

I can still remember when I was still a freshman in the college of medicine at Our lady of Fatima University. When I heard that Rico Yan died of bangungut? I tried to search it in my medical books and even asked my professor about it. There are few articles to be found, Sudden and unexpected death syndrome (SUDS) as medical books called it. More popular in our local language as '' bangungut'' meaning bangun ( wake up) and ungul (moan). It is said that victims moan in his sleep before dying. Folk belief says  that if you go to bed hungry, the spirit will leave the body and search for food  in the kitchen and most often the spirit gets trapped inside pots and pan. This was first studied in 1948 by Dr. Alvin Majoska, a hawaiian coroner, noted that healthy filipino men simply died in their sleep.        

Autopsy concluded that Yan had died of cardiac arrest caused by acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis(bangungot in Tagalog) while asleep. He was 27.

Different theories have traced the cause of bangungut to the following

1) Diet - Filipino food when digested causes autointoxication that affects the heart and pancreas main suspect ( Patis) or fish sauce

2) Heart problem - banungut merely a heart attack

3) A heavy meal before sleeping- The stomach excerts pressure to the heart

In the Philippines , most cases can be linked to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, Seen during autopsy. Others say that bangungut is no longer specific to filipino men. Other asian men have died in a similar way (Laos and Thailand) It will still remain a mystery until medical science   can fully explain this phenomenon.       

Fitness Republic (San Mateo Rizal)

Since its opening in 2005, Fitness Republic has become an icon in fitness and health in the town of San Mateo Rizal. Operated by Mr Robert Gascon , accountant, athlete and owner of this establishment. Health and fitness promotion is the main goal of this gym and has been involved in numerous activity in promoting health to the people of San Mateo. According to Robert, ever since he was in college he's  been involved in swimming and other outdoor activities.Which is his main drive in putting up this gym. Fitness Republic has around 500 active members and  has participated in body building competition's locally.

Located in the heart of  Ampid, boast of its four storey  building and is equipped with a gym and sauna. Its instructors are of top caliber and are certified fitness trainers . At Fitness Republic, health and Fitness is not an option but a way of life...

''Balut'' Uniquely Filipino?

 

Balut is a term meaning '' wrapped''. Is a fertilized duck egg boilled and is a popular street food snack here in the Philippines. The best way to get balut for the first time is to go to Pateros. A town that specializes in Balutan, it got its name from  the tagalog word ''Pato'' meaning duck and pateros means duck raisers. Balut is so popular that you can get it everywhere. Peddled in the streets or you can even get it in malls served in the form of Kwek Kwek (fried duck eggs covered in yellow breading). Balut is popular here and in south east asian country like  Laos , Cambodia and Vietnam. The most common way to eat balut is to crack it open and eat it in the shell, just add a pinch of salt and vinegar and eat it. It is also a popular food for '' pulutan'' or  finger food , eaten with beer or any alcoholic beverage. What made balut so popular? because its cheap and it is easy to make and is packed with protein. Grab yourself a balut?