The Halo-Halo Bistro

By Dr. Herm Valenzuela, M.D. Topics on coronary artery disease and related subjects come almost quarterly because together with stroke are the most common causes of fatalities (more than all types of cancer combined). BTW skin cancers are still the most common form of cancer world-wide than all of the other body cancers combined accdg to the W.H.O. This week's consultant is Dr.Giovanni Ciuffo, professor & surgeon in the Cardiothoracic Dept. at Mount Sinai M.C. (NYC); with my addenda from other refs. "No one is exempt from heart disease, an umbrella term used for those diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels; heart disease (coronary artery disease) and cardiovascular diseases are often used interchangeably," Dr Ciuffo states. "The most recent studies show that up to 50% of the world population will eventually be affected by significant heart disease," he added. About 80 M Americans suffered from heart disease in 2006 and about 865,500 died of this in...

What I consider to be my favorite watercolor is this one of my daughter Tina and Tekka, her dog. Tina and I played tennis one summer day on a Saturday morning at our local sports club. After tennis, we went to our house for lunch in our backyard. It was a nice sunny day. Tina was relaxing, sipping a glass of red wine in our backyard while Louise, my wife was preparing lunch. I looked out and saw a beautiful composition of Tina and Tekka. I happened to have my camera in my pocket and pulled it out to take a photo. With the hills in the background, I thought it would be a good composition. When I first saw the photo on my computer screen, I knew I had to paint it. I had been looking for a good subject for a watercolor painting and I knew this was it. I took my time to paint this one. After about a month, I finished my work. I am very happy with the results. Zack

On the morning of November 27, 1959 at Sangley Point, Philippines, I was very excited when I took the oath to enlist in the US Coast Guard. There were 25 of us and we all knew that after our swearing in process we would be confined on base and could no longer go home. We had a short indoctrination after swearing in and we learned we were steward recruits. I felt homesick already. I had to accept the fact that the next time I could see my family again would be when my four-year enlistment was over or sooner if found to be unfit to serve. We all looked pretty scared not knowing what to expect. We filled out more enlistment paperwork until around noon when it was time for us to go to lunch. A petty officer marched us to the mess hall. This was the first mess hall I had ever seen. Everybody formed a line to get their food. It was cafeteria style. Everything looked delicious. There were green salads, fried chicken and roast beef for the main course and assorted cakes and ice cream...

It was 1947. I was 6 years old. We moved to Santol where my parents started a laundry business. They would pickup dirty laundry from customers near us, wash their clothes, iron them, and deliver them back. Everything was done by hand. We could not afford a washing machine. The laundry business was our only source of income. When I was about 12 years old and strong enough, I helped my parents by picking up and delivering laundry. One of our customers that helped shape my life was Generoso Fernandez and his wife Miling. They had six children: three girls and three boys. The boys were about my age. Mr. Fernandez was a civil engineer. When I graduated from high school, Mr. Fernandez encouraged me to take civil engineering in college, which I did. Mr. Fernandez taught me how to play chess. When I became good enough playing the game I became his regular chess opponent. I became good friends with his sons Boy, Bert and Sonny. They would frequently invite me over to play table tenni...

Thank you for appreciating my "postings." Let me now relate a "session" among several body organ's self-importance for the body. A happy and contented wife was sleeping in bed while the body organs continued to work at a relaxed pace automatically. The Brain & spinal cord partners started the boast- "We are the most important part of mom's cuerpo. We made her intelligent- making smart descisions, controlled her emotions specially when the husband goes bonkers, make the muscles move so she can do all her work and I am the body's main computer to store all the data and info of her life," said the brain. "And, remember Christopher Reeves ?- he may be superman but was paralyzed form the neck down when he broke it!" The Lungs almost had an apneic attack and the wife coughed and wheezed briefly. I'm better than you- I make the body breathe and without oxygen you guys will not last 3 minutes! Remember Kathleen Quinlan ? She was in ...

I decided to do something special for a small family get-together, something I had never done before. I thought I’d try doing a pig roast Philippine style on our charcoal grill in our backyard. After doing my research on line on how to cook lechon, I special-ordered a small suckling pig at a local market. I made sure the pig would be 15 pounds or less as the maximum weight my rotisserie could handle was 15 pounds. The pig we got was 14 pounds – just perfect, as the length was also a perfect fit on the grill. It took five hours to roast the pig. We pulled it at 170 deg F. It looked delicious even before we carved it. My wife Louise made the liver sauce. I am ready to do this again! Thanks to my son-in-law Dave for all the help. My daughter Tina took this video. The family dog Tekka kept us company throughout the roast.

Submitted by Dr. Herm Valenzuela Why Is This Old-Time Rich Man's Disease Making a Modern Comeback? By Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh Boston University Special from Bottom Line's Daily Health News October 5, 2009 Brought on by overindulging in food and drink, gout was once considered a disease of the monied classes, but nowadays those of a lower socioeconomic status may be more likely to have the disease, due to overindulgence in fast food and sugary drinks. Research suggests that the number of cases here in the US doubled from 1977 to 1997, with an estimated six million Americans suffering this painful, debilitating form of arthritis. Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness typically affecting the big toe, but potentially other joints, such as the ankles, knees, fingers, wrists and elbows as well. Gout incidence is more common in men, although women are increasingly susceptible after menopause. I was told by Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh, professor of medicin...

By Raf Rovira The Redneck Margarita Recipe comes to us from Redding. Jason Dunn's Mom gave him the recipe (though she called it Whitetrash Margaritas... not really sure why or how the name got changed... but either name is fitting!), he was kind enough to share with me and I have been cooling countless parched throats since then. One thing I would recommend is to resist using an expensive/high quality tequila, since the Cuervo Golds of the world provide the most "bang" for the buck. Also, the recipe calls for specific brands of "mixers", they can obviously be substituted, but (as it stands) this is a winning combination. So, alas... here's the mix: 1 Corona Beer - 12 ounces 1 Can of Limeade Concentrate (comes frozen) - 12 ounces 1 Can of 7-Up - 12 ounces Tequila - 12 ounces. I find using the empty can of Limeade after you empty it, is most useful. Put ice in a cup and ENJOY!!!

http://www.philippinesinsider.com/philippines/filipino-cuisine/ Lechon is a Spanish word meaning “suckling pig”. In the Philippines, Lechon always means a whole roasted pig commonly known as Lechon Baboy. Beef and chicken are also popular as lechon commonly known as Lechon Baka and Lechon Manok, respectively. The method of cooking the lechon is that the whole pig is roasted slowly over live charcoal. This method is also similar to the way the Chinese Peking duck or the Balines Guling celeng is cooked. The tedious method of long-hours roasting the whole pig leaves the meat very tender inside and a crispy skin outside. The lechon is a popular dish in any of the festivities in the Philippines such as fiestas, holiday seasons, and special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and other family gatherings. It is said that celebrations are not complete without the lechon as the table’s centerpiece. It is always served with a liver-based sauce making it more tasteful and delicious. The lechon ka...

By Rodney J. Jaleco Aug 21st, 2008 MILTON, Florida = Naval Air Station Whiting Field mirrors a typical American mid-size town – homes, offices, parks and other amenities to sustain 3,800 people. But it also hosts 120 planes and 150 helicopters of the US Navy. The man charged with keeping this large community and everything in it, is Navy Capt. Enrique “Rick” Sadsad, a 51-year-old Olongapo City native, who rose from the ranks to become one the highest ranking Filipino-Americans in the US Navy. Whiting Field, about 30 minutes away from Pensacola, is the US Navy’s premier basic flight school. A sign on the entrance of a classroom building says it all – “Through these doors pass the future of naval aviation”. “At Whiting Field we train navy, air force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps to be pilots, naval aviators,” Capt. Sadsad explained. Students include those sent by America’s allies, including a few from the Philippine Navy and Air Force. “We have the fixed wing part, which are three VT (t...

By Carole Tarantino Sometimes I am so amazed when something like this crosses my path and I have had the experience. On my way back from Pohnpei this summer, we had a few days layover in Honolulu at a nice hotel to de-compress, and our hotel had many, many soldiers, men and women, in transit, just coming back, and on their way over. One morning I rode the elevator down with a tall gentlemen in fatigues, and as we stepped out of the elevator, me first, I turned to him and wished him God's blessings and safety wherever he might be. His face showed bewilderment at first, then a smile, and I swear his eyes were misty as I smiled and walked away. How many times have I passed a person in uniform and felt too awkward to express my appreciation, regardless of the political posture? Many times, for sure. And I use this expression that shows love in my heart for another when I have not been allowed to speak to the defendant. No one ever stopped me from this expression. It’s easy to ju...

By Celia White A must read for parents Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K.Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story: “I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies. One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father asked me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, ‘I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together.’ After hurriedly comple...

By Celia White Panciteria Moderna was the place to go for pancit miki and miki bihon already wrapped in their version of 'tetra pak' (banana leaves on wrapping paper tied with a rubber band). Pancit bihon was the specialty of Panciteria Wa Nam .. Kung gusto mo naman ng chopsuey rice doon ka sa Hen Wah, tabi ng Avenue Theatre. At sa Ma Mon Luk, siopao was at 30 centavos; mami was at 70 centavos or 2 pcs. of siomai (large) with unlimited soup for 30 centavos.. So with one peso busog ka na. Ngayon bigay mo piso sa pulubi, titignan ka pa ng masama. The Shangri-la in the basement of Shelborne Hotel (at the back) was the place to go for dates if you wanted a dark and cozy atmosphere. The Black Angel along Shaw Blvd near the corner of Kalentong in Mandaluyong was a very good place to listen to soft music (Fleetwoods, Lettermen, Cascades) and the lights were also quite low.. Then with the introduction of the 'black light' you look like Dracula about t...

Last year on my birthday my son Carl who lives in Brazil was visiting with us and he gave me a present, a toy he bought from Target for $40. It was an Airhog Havoc Remote Control (R/C) helicopter. It was designed to fly indoors only so I flew it in our living room and family room. One problem was it was difficult to control and several times, I crashed into Louise’s houseplants causing damage to the plants and also to my toy. Luckily, it came with several spare rotor blades so I was able to make repairs for a while. I played with it for several weeks, then after one hard crash, it was totally unrepairable. The fun I had playing with this toy was worth $40. I missed my Airhog helicopter. I searched the Internet for a replacement and found a bigger model that would also fly outdoors, the Art Tech Eagle Eye. It features an on-board video camera system that allows you to record what the helicopter ‘sees’ while airborne. The video signal is transmitted to a receiver on the ground w...

By Celia White They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.........if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor" But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot...........they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell . .. . brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouqu et when getting married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice ...

By Celia White How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of murdered? Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... But it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? Once you're in heaven, are you eternally stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in? How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every two hours? If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV? Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural? Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane? If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil ...

By Celia White Some sage words for those who believe that growing old is a serious impediment……. “An adult with a capacity for true maturity is one who has grown out of childhood without losing childhood„ his best traits has retained the basic emotional strengths of infancy, the stubborn autonomy of toddlerhood, the capacity for wonder and pleasure and playfulness of the pre-school years, and the idealism and passion of adolescence and has incorporated these into a new pattern of simplicity dominated by adult stability, wisdom, knowledge, sensitivity to other people, responsibility, strength and purpose.” Stone and Church, 1973 With luck we will ALL attain maturity some day – remember though it’s all about how we do the journey not just getting to the destination! Herm added these gems: Maturity leads to old age. So, here's some aphorisms on aging: Colette (French author): You must not pity me because my sixtieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the s...

By Dr. Herm Valenzuela I was a medical resident at the Albert Einstein M.C. and rotated to the Bronx-Lebanon Hospitals where I met "David" & "Lydia," retired from work, as my patients. They were old and fragile as I remember, survivors of the Holocaust as indicated by the tattoed numbers in their forearms. They may have met in The Exodus, the ship that ferried hundreds of Jews to Palestine. Then David & Lydia got married and immigrated to New York. They told me that the Liberty Statue was the most beautiful lady they ever saw. They even knew that a poem was written there by Emma Lazarus. They lived in the Morrisiana section of the Bronx for years at Jerome Avenue where an elevated train runs. David and Lydia had no child as they were a victim of the Nazi "experiments." David worked at a bakery and Lydia as a seamstress till their fingers were deformed by arthritis and their eye sights were failing them so they retired. They did not have any medical...

By John Johnston jjohnston@enquirer.com It was a small ceremony attended by only a few family members and friends. They gathered on a Tuesday in the priest's parlor at St. Boniface in Northside and listened to a young couple recite their wedding vows. To have and to hold, from this day forward... "They wouldn't let us in church," recalls the former Thelma Wiesman, who was the bride that day. Walter Shroyer, the groom, wasn't Catholic, although he later converted. "That's a long time ago," Thelma says. Seventy-five years. She was 18 and Walter was 19 when they married on Aug. 11, 1934. Now 93 and 94, they will mark a milestone Tuesday that few others attain. They're sitting on the patio of their buff brick home in Colerain Township, enjoying a summer breeze and eyeing Walter's large garden in the distance. Its dozens of tomato plants are beginning to produce plump, juicy fruit. Walter thinks back to the fall of 1933. He was working part-time a...