Eric Clapton Performs "Little Queen of Spades"

By: Joaquin Quiros

Source for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52CfwR9ZfjY

                                       
Eric Clapton is undoubtedly one of the foremost guitar gods still alive and kicking today in 2016. Still performing at 70 years old, he has truly earned the right to be called a "God". The video above is taken from his 2014 tour in the Far East.The video was taken from his concert at the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. At this particular performance he was actually celebrating his 200th performance at venue. This song "Little Queen of Spades", is a wonderful blues piece written by the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. Clapton's known for his various renditions of other songs, its amazing to note that he has the ability to really leave his own original marks to these songs. Examples of which are "I Shot The Sheriff" by Bob Marley, "I'm Tore Down" by Freddie King and many others.

Retrieved from: http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-photos/1990s 

 Eric Clapton's rendition of this song is basically divided into 3 parts, opening with a slow, mellow introduction for the first verse, followed by 2 piano solos with Chris Stainton on keyboards and Paul Carrack on the Hammond organ before the second verse, and finally the best part of the piece is undoubtedly the final solo right after the final verse, Clapton bursts into so much passion as he plays the final guitar solo, you can feel the emotions he is trying to convey to the listener. The beauty of this performance is that it has the ability to touch your soul, you feel what the musician feels. This blues song is not meant to be sung along to, but to be felt for it has so much to offer the listener. Clapton has once again showed his prowess and passion in playing music. Excellent indeed.




Source:
Eric Clapton Photo Gallary: The 1990S. www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-photos/1990s

The Great South African Tour

by Sandra Kahn

The summer of 2014, I traveled to a country I thought I would never set foot on my entire life. This was going to be my first time to travel to South Africa, and basically my first time to travel out of Asia as well. My mom and I were invited to friend's wedding, we saw the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. She started planning around the schedule of the wedding and made sure that our days were filled with activities.

Our first destination, was in Bonamanzi. It is a resort that is surrounded by wildlife. Monkeys, antelopes, and wild boars roamed freely in the resort. The animals didn't cause any trouble to the guests because they were already used to seeing humans.

The resort had a lounge where we can all come together and meet with the other guests who were staying there. The lounge overlooked a big lake that actually serves as a habitat to crocodiles. We were told that the crocodiles rarely showed themselves and that there was no reason to be afraid.

The resort also had its own game reserve. A game reserve is a big land where the wild animals can live safely without the worry of illegal hunting. This is popular to tourists (such as myself) because it provides experts to bring us sightseeing from a safe distance.

This is me seeing a giraffe this close for the first time. Excuse my facial expression, even if it was very sunny that day, I still felt very cold. 

After sightseeing for an hour, we had a hot chocolate break. The driver brought out big thermoses filled with hot chocolate and plenty of mugs for everyone.

Our next destination was the Tsitsikamma Forest. One of their most popular landmark is the Big Tree, its stands at 37 meters and is estimated to be 800 years old. The forest is a big place and you can easily get lost if you're not careful enough, but when you finally reach the center, you will see this mighty tree. 

After that, we packed up and drove across country. We booked into a new hotel and began searching for other treasures to find. We came across this national park and had a viewing deck of the tropical penguins. 

Male penguins are known to be the food gatherer while the female is either building their nest or is nesting its egg. You can tell if a male penguin is looking for someone to mate with when the male is carrying a pebble in its mouth. Male penguins give pebbles to the females as a sign of a gift and if the female accepts the pebble, it means that they are allowing the male penguin to mate with them.

We couldn't stay in the same area for 2 weeks, we constantly moved from one hotel to another, just to see what South Africa had to offer. Many people have stereotypes of South Africa, such as, it is only a safari region. That is not true, they have cities and malls just like any other country. Not only did we visit safaris, but we watched musical plays and visited museums too.The people are full of diversity and are truly accommodating. 

I had an amazing time and I wish that I could have stayed longer. But to be honest, I grew very home sick and I craved for any Filipino dish as soon as I arrived home. I am going to end my entry with my favourite photo taken during the trip.

This is my mom and I walking along the dock of Gordon's bay. It was bright and sunny afternoon, considering that it was raining hard the night before.  The famous table-top mountain is seen the background. This is my favourite photo because it reminds me that wherever I may be, my mom will always be there by my side.

Thank you for reading my entries about travel and culture. I hope that in some small way, I have contributed something to you and you are left with inspiration to see the world out there. 

"Not all those who wander are lost" - JRR Tolkien

*all photos are originally mine*

HOME

The Philippines
by Katrina Dovey


Home is where the heart is.

This is why a lot of people feel as if the Philippines could be a home to them, the country opens up its arms to everyone wanting to be a part of it. A lot of people feel as if the Philippines is already home to them, and it's no question why.

The Philippines is a country filled with culture. From its festivals to their wildlife, the food it offers, the places to see, the people you meet, there is so much to see. Everyone should travel to the Philippines because of all the things there is to see, every direction you face there is always something new to discover in this beautiful country,

Photo credits: http://www.justonewayticket.com/2012/12/05/why-you-should-travel-philippines/

Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is populated by approximately 102 million people. Some of the popular tourist destinations in Manila are the Rizal Park, Fort Santiago or the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eralviz/

Although Manila is the capital of the country, the real adventure starts when you step out of the city.

One of the most popular tourist spots in the country would be Boracay which is a white beach located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. The beach is lined with restaurants, hotels, bars, and other activities to do, it has truly become one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country.

Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/35173034@N04/3259854237

A big part of the Filipino culture is its food. The food of the country is a combination of the mixed cuisine of countries like Malaysia, India, China, America and other countries that give it a sense of originality. 

Photo credits:http://www.expatch.org/2014/09/29/in-tagalog-dumalo-tayo-sa-pista/fiesta1/

Adobo is one of the most popular Filipino dishes and is unofficially considered to be the national dish of the country. The name adobo came from the spanish word "adobar" which means "marinade" or "sauce". The main ingredients tend to be meat, soy sauce, vinegar, cooking oil, garlic, and bay leaf. For this blog, I wanted to share with you all a dish that is a part of the culture but... with a twist.

The recipe I will be sharing today is Pork Adobo with Baby Back Ribs.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup Light soy sauce
• ½ cup Rice vinegar
• ½ cup Rice wine
• 1 Tbs.Fish sauce
• 3 Tbs. Brown sugar
• ⅓ cup Chopped garlic (approximately 18 to 20 cloves)
• 4 Bay leaves
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 2 Tbs. Cooking oil
• 1 Rack of baby back ribs (approximately 3½ lb.), cut into single pieces
• 3 Green onions, chopped
• Fresh lime juice from 1 lime
• 6 Lime wedges to serve

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine soy sauce and next 7 ingredients(until black pepper) and whisk to dissolve sugar into sauce, set aside.
2. 
3. preheat oven over 350 degrees.
4. 
5. Heat a braising pan or deep skillet (I recommend to use oven-safe pan such as dutch oven or cast iron pan) over high heat; add oil. Sear pork ribs 3 minutes each side or until golden brown. It doesn't need to be cooked- we just want nice sear on each ribs. Do 2 batches if that’s necessary for really nice golden brown seared ribs.
6.  
7.  
8. Tap excess oil on pan with kitchen paper towel and place seared pork ribs all back into pan or roasting pan if you are using. Pour sauce we made earlier. Cover with aluminum foil first then cover with lid. If not, you might ruin your lid from splashing soy sauce and sugar mixture. Place into preheated oven, braise for 1 hour 30 minutes.
9.  
10.  
11.  
12.  
13. Remove pan from oven and bring back to stove. Uncover and cook for additional 10 minutes until meat has a nice caramelization and liquid reduced- as sticky glaze on ribs.
14.  
15.  
16. Transfer ribs on a serving plate and spoon out most fat out from pan. Add in green onion and lime juice to sauce and mix.
17.  
18.  
19. 
20. Pour sauce over ribs and serve warm. Enjoy with a warm cooked jasmine rice! :-D
21. 

*Recipe and pictures retrieved from: http://seonkyounglongest.com/filipino-baby-back-ribs-adobo/*

The Philippines has so much more to offer than what anyone can write. It is filled with hidden treasures and secrets waiting to be found.

Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cb_agulto/5770275195

Sources:

Filipino Adobo Recipe : Filipino Adobo with Baby Back Ribs - Asian at Home. (2015, January 22). Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://seonkyounglongest.com/filipino-baby-back-ribs-adobo/

Laureta, I. (2015, March 10). 28 Reasons You Should Absolutely Never Visit The Philippines. Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://www.buzzfeed.com/isabellelaureta/sarcasm-its-more-fun-in-the-philippines#.binGpeVxx

Manila, C. (2016, January 04). PopCom: PH population expected to hit 104 million in 2016. Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://manila.coconuts.co/2016/01/04/popcom-ph-population-expected-hit-104-million-2016

Lobino, S. (2012). 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES. Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://www.justonewayticket.com/2012/12/05/why-you-should-travel-philippines/

Boracay - Lonely Planet. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2016, from https://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/the-visayas/boracay 

Runway

by Paula Jae Bacolod

In my previous post, I have talked about "Battles". Battles won't be existing if there are no opponents. 

When it comes to fashion, the world is your opponent. You have to decide on what outfit you should wear today, tomorrow, the  next day, the day after that, and the list just goes on; however the there are still limits on what will you be doing, where will you be going, will it be hot or cold...

An example I want to mention is the upcoming concert I will be going to, this concert is the concert that I have been waiting for months and even if it is just a few day by now, I still get second thoughts on what to wear. I need to know if my outfit is appropriate. There are different "WHAT IF's" I should always be sure of, like what if one of the artist would bump into me.

Retrieved from https://hannahmorley.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/gig-outfit-ideas/

We all need to look great no matter what. We need to look great in front of the people who we have a crush on, we have to look great in front of a crowd and we always have to have a good first impression. We would have our outfits ready within day if there is a really special occasion.

Walking around the streets, in the mall, or anywhere is the whole runaway. One thing that we should not forget to where is our CONFIDENCE. If you have the outfit, the shoes, the bags, but no confidence, then those physical looks won't even matter. You are what you dress.

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sHiaMq5a1g

Watch the video above, so you would know what I am talking about. *wink wink* 

Being confident is what people would look. It is the "in" of all generations. The first step of confidentially walking in a runaway is just loving the outfit you are wearing. This is for both men and women out there. 

If you want to be fashionable, then don't be afraid and start your runway. Stand out. xx



Source: 

O'callaghan, J, (2014). You are what you DRESS: Clothing has a significant effect on self-esteem and confidence, claims expert. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2644076/You-DRESS-Clothing-significant-effect-self-esteem-confidence-claims-expert.html

The Unsolved

By: Bersano, Jazmen Rascyl

Retrieved from: http://cheshirelibraryblog.com/2015/03/12/cozy-mysteries-march-2015/

Ever since I was little, I have been interested in things that were out of this world. The extraordinary makes it even more appealing to me that one can't help but be attracted and illuminated by the aura and delicacy it presents. Not just I, but many are greatly interested with the thought of something yet to be discovered and seen either face to face or just through a mere broadcast (Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, etc.). It is through this that superstitions and even movies such as "The Walking Dead" exists and captivated the attention and the likes of both the media and the people. 

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHkgHMkLg_s

The imagination of humankind has been piercing through artefacts, pictures, architectures, and even the mere sight of a human being or animal; looking for a better explanation on why such thing existed. Overthinking, one must say, but this is what drives humankind to what we are today, this is what stirs us up and keeps us going until we find satisfaction. One great example of such would be the mystery behind the famous artwork called 'Mona Lisa' by the well known artist and architect, Leonardo Da Vinci. According to the video provided, scientists and even mere critics found their way to "discover" a hidden message through looking past the different layers used in developing the canvas. Other critics were able to highlight that the hidden message behind this portrait was an alien seen, once mirrored to itself, which drove the internet into concluding that even Leonardo Da Vinci, himself could be an alien of some sort. For there were many different types of sources stating that he qualified every suspicion they had of being an extraterrestrial life proof on Earth. 

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igRbL9HpqFw

The thought of traveling in and out of space or into another dimension in time is just the dream. I have been going through several youtube videos and articles based on mysterious traveler's from other dimensions and came upon this short video that got me interested into knowing how these people (mentioned in the video) even existed. dumbfounded, i found myself. It is somewhat hard to believe but at the same time believable and caught me off guard. I've been wondering on whether or not these mentioned "time traveler's/dimension traveler's" are even real and not just misinterpreted by the citizens during the period they were in. Ever since I was a child, I have been wondering how it would feel like to be able to time travel and meet the old and new me which means that I wanted to see how I would look like in the future and how I looked like way before I even got here. 

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igRbL9HpqFw

There were many instances wherein I would just look far across the distance and daydream about having to be able to travel in between time while contemplating on whether or not it is even possible to do so. For just the thought of someone finally being able to build or construct a portal to another dimension or even a time machine makes me even more motivated to live up to the life that, that day would come. The fact that there are many other creatures we are yet to discover is just giving me and many others out there hope of living through life with a new and bright "discovery".

 Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tiow2F9BkIw

How cool would it be to time travel? Not just cool, but AWESOME! But to think of it, it would be a bit confusing for the people around you to find you in their streets walking around as though you were one of them when you aren't. What got me interested about this John Titor was the fact that he did everything to get noticed even if he knows that he really does not fit in. He even publicly announced it to the world (2001) that he does come from the year 2036, which is 20 more years from now and was not afraid to have declared so. Along with it was his way of stating to the world some of his prominent and yet possible predictions including the 2008 olympics being cancelled (which did not happen but nearly occurred if it was not nudged by the Chinese), and many other predictions that got the citizens of today, alarmed and amazed to have had this revelation. He was even bold enough to share how the sketch of his time machine and stated why he was able to even travel back in time. 

Retrieved from: http://www.astonishinglegends.com/portfolio/john-titor-and-other-time-travelers/

When you do look at it or further investigate on his existence, you can indeed put the puzzle pieces together and say that he does look as though he did not belong in the period he was in the picture. The way he brought himself was as though he was a traveler or a citizen of the current generation, year 2016, when in fact that photo was taken during the re-opening of the South Fork Bridge located in British Columbia, 1941. It was even stated that he had with him a modern Nikon camera, which can only be purchased from this generation and not of 1941. What makes it more obvious that he clearly doesn't belong there was the fact that he wore a t-shirt, jacket that was zipped half way and a new wave sunglasses that was indeed unlikely to be possible at that time. I guess somethings are just better off unanswered. 

Retrieved from: http://www.gadgetshowprizes.co.uk/austin-powers-volkswagen/

Source:

1. Schwarz, R. (February 23, 2012). A Look At John Tator's Most Popular Predictions. Retrieved from: http://www.strangerdimensions.com/2012/02/23/a-look-at-john-titors-most-popular-predictions/
2. Ep:012 John Titor and Other Time Travelers. Retrieved from: http://www.astonishinglegends.com/portfolio/john-titor-and-other-time-travelers/

It's a Filipino Thing

By: Sachiko Sasaki

Being a Filipino is nothing like any other nationality especially when it comes to their beliefs and cultures. Filipinos are very superstitious with everything they see particularly with everything that is around them, which I find it very imaginative and creative. I have encountered some of these Filipino superstition beliefs from my relatives who lives in the province of Samar and Cebu. They tell me a lot of stories and information on why should and shouldn't do, because for some reasons, then me eventually would follow it since I also somehow believe in it.

Here are some of the superstitious Filipino beliefs and cultures that Filipino people think to be true:

1. "Sleeping with Wet Hair"

I like taking a bath every night then eventually, I would feel really sleepy after taking a shower. My relatives would tell me that it is bad to sleep while the hair is still wet because it could cause blindness.

Retrived from: http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/you-will-never-sleep-with-wet-hair-again-after-you-read-this/

2. "Twin Bananas"
The Filipino elders say that if a pregnant woman ate some twin bananas, then there is a chance that the mother will have twins due to the eating of bananas that are stick together which actually looked like twins. Twin bananas are rare to produce and find that is why the person who eats it is fortunate.

Retrieved from: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/01/have-you-ever-seen-a-double-banana.html

3. "Pagpag"
After going to the funeral, the elders would say and believe that one should go to different place first before going their respective home like mall because they believe that if someone didn't do this practice which is the "pagpag", the soul of the dead person whom they had just visited will follow and haunt them.

Retrieved from: http://www.lionheartv.net/2013/12/pagpag-siyam-na-buhay-cliche-pinoy-horror-movie/

4. "Usog"
Usog is a Filipino term when a child usually an infant or a toddler got sick or fever after a visitor or stranger greeted the child. The elders believes that the guardian of the child should say "puwera usog". After saying puwera usog by the guardian, the guardian would asked the visitor or stranger to placed their saliva on their finger then rub it on the child's forehead or abdomen to prevent the child from getting sick.

Retrieved from:  http://www.mommytopaz.com/2010/12/voodoo.html?m=1

5. "Garlic"
Garlic is one of the famous weapon for Filipinos especially in the provinces. It is used as their protection so that the evil creatures can't go near to them.

Retrived from: http://missosology.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=75027&start=19170

6. "Langis"
I have never seen one of these but I have seen one in a Filipino horror film. Langis is a thing that helps a person to determine if there is an "aswang" or evil creature near them. The langis would create some bubble or it even looks like a water boiling inside the small bottle as a symbol of evil creature is coming near or beside the person who owns the langis.

Retrieved from: http://kapangyarihanglihim.blogspot.com/2014_05_01_archive.html

7. "Paglilihi"
Paglilihi is a Filipino term and belief that every pregnant woman always craves on a certain food. Adults says and believes that if the husband didn't get or buy the food that his wife is craving for, then the baby will die inside the mother's womb.

Retrieved from: http://mypregnancyafterloosingone.blogspot.com/?m=1

8. "Thread on the Forehead"
I have seen a lot of people especially Filipinos who puts a small strand of thread on the forehead of their child whenever the child has hiccups. The reason why they put a strand of thread and wet the thread with their saliva before putting on the child's forehead in order to lessen or luckily get rid of the hiccups.

Retrieved from: https://mikeagner.wordpress.com/

9. "Sukob"
This is one of the famous superstition in the Philippines. Sukob means that if two sisters or two brothers get married on the same year, the one will have a fortunate and successful life and considered as the "Lucky" one. While the other one will have a sorrowful and unsuccessful life or also known as the "Unlucky" one.

Retrieved from: http://multuhan-ph.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html?m=1

10. "Black Butterfly"
If a Black butterfly enters or all of a sudden appears inside your house, it means that either one of your loved ones who have passed away is visiting you or one of your family member will die. The black butterfly will also serve as a signal that someone is going to die and it is also similar to the mythological character which is the "Grim Reaper".

Retrieved from: http://texasbutterflyranch.com/category/moths-2

If you guys want to know more about the Philippines' superstitions, then watch these videos that was made and posted by Filipina in the US. Here are the links of the videos:

Outrageous Filipino Superstitious Beliefs Vol. 1

Go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyslMBw2Wm0

Outrageous Filipino Superstitious Beliefs Vol. 2

Go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqDivFhgoEw

Sources:
http://www.filipiknow.net/filipino-superstitions/website