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| Crystal clear America’s still the one |
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Let me be clear, it is too early to know how history will judge the presidency of Barack Obama. To guess at the legacy of a sitting president is a dangerous game. History is, after all, a mysterious lady who often misbehaves, who delights in going against pattern; rarely is this more evident than in American politics.
Still, the past shines enough light to allow some certainties.
In a summer of discontent, I say the last few weeks have certainly been a nightmare for President Obama. As the president’s popularity is plunging evident by poll numbers that continue to spiral downward, many Americans are beginning to doubt his promised “change we can believe in” and even his chances for a second term, for that matter. Rocked by the growing backlash against his rushed and radical health care overhaul and his unprecedented spending spree, more and more Americans are concerned that the country is on the wrong track and headed for something they don’t like a bit.
America’s thirst for wholesale change of its time-tested institutions has indeed been vastly overestimated by those folks in power. In short, most Americans are now “dealing with it” so to speak.
Chastened and willing to – dare we say it – change – Americans now tend to look back to their roots and the principles upon which this great nation was founded.
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| Cozying up with cactus cooking |
| SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Cactus. For most of us a cute house plant we cannot kill, the main vegetation of many National and Regional Parks and the quintessential symbol of the American Southwestern deserts. While strolling down the ethnic food aisle at your local grocery store, you may have noticed a can or jar labeled “nopales cactus.” Unless you’ve dined in Mexico, you may have been a little confused and probably passed it up. If your local grocer carries nopales in jars, you’ve seen that they basically look like slices of green pepper. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area where you can buy whole cactus pads, you’ve probably seen that they basically look like… well, cactus. Though many Americans have never tried it, nopales has become a major cash crop in Mexico – thanks to its growing popularity in Asia and across the Americas. It might even be on its way to becoming a main staple food in the Western Hemisphere … well, at least on my own household, if I may happily say so. Nopal cactus, at times referred to in English as “Prickly Pear,” “Indian Fig” or “Barbary Fig” grow from the plant genus Opuntia, which “represents the most efficient conversion of water to calories on the planet” as reported by a cactus researcher in Texas. It is primarily a medicinal plant and food with a 12,000 year safety record. Cactus pads and fruit are eaten and enjoyed in parts of Europe, the Middle East, India, North Africa, Australia, South and Central America and right here in good, old U.S. of A. It is also available year-round for the consumers, if you have noticed. |
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| Complimenting more women of substance |
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – My wife and I have just recently gotten back from attending a wonderful, old fashioned high school reunion right here in the finest city of America. This has been the 8th grand reunion of the Villamor High School Alumni Association of America (VHSAAA). We take the pursuit of happiness very seriously around this biennial assembly. This year, which I have hoped for was no different from the previous ones except that this was way much more fun with all the “new” women of substance around.
In an earlier column, I’ve written something about the women of my hometown Sta. Ana – celebrating how far they’ve come, how much they have learned, and the glorious women they all really are. And that more than the world can possibly understand, their journeys are as much theirs as it is all ours.
Of course, we all know home-making is the forte of women. Filipino women are particularly proud to be trailblazers. In my historic hometown of Sta. Ana in old Manila back in the former homeland – I am proud to say that there are many more women who falls under the same category – more liberated womanhood who walk ahead in life with confidence and competence – and that – my dear readers – is none other than my schoolmates from Class ’67 – Fleurdelis, Mina, Flor, Maria, Ayet, Celia, Adel, Aleth and Estrella – all of our younger sisters in high school whom we all grew up with in the ‘60s.
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| Until we meet again, Villamorians! |
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – I got up early today to bring my thoughts and impressions to paper while they are still fresh. This past weekend (July 16-18th) was the 8th Grand Reunion of the Villamor High School Alumni Association of America (VHSAAA) held right here in the finest city of America. What a thought, indeed it is – getting together with a bunch of former classmates and schoolmates, most of whom I have not seen in years.
A reunion truly stirs up strange sensations, feelings of curiosity, mixed with a little bit of nervousness and apprehension. A reunion forces one to think about one’s life (the 40 plus years in my case), the decision one has made, and their cumulative effect. It is certainly a time to take stock and reflect before and after the exciting event itself.
First things first, this is dedicated to our beloved high school alma mater and its alumni especially to the Class of 1964. Last weekend reminded me how special all of you are. I wish nothing but the best to all of you. I look
forward when we can all do this again!
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