Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Cooking 101: Mangoes and Peaches Freezer Cake

Cooking 101.

Cooking has always been close to my heart. It's either I am a writer or a cook.

----o
For my first cooking entry. Here's my all-time-favorite dessert.

Mango and Peaches Freezer Cake

Ingredients:
A pack of M.Y. San Grahams (Honey)
A pack of M.Y. San Grahams (Crushed)


One can of Condensed Milk
















One pack of All Purpose Cream


















Ripe Mangoes

Ripe Peaches

















Tools:
  • non-stick pan
  • pyrex container
  • wooden spoon
  • knife
  • mixing bowls

How-to-do:
  1. pre-heat the non-stick pan
  2. mix the All Purpose Cream and Condensed Milk on the pan. Stir well.
  3. turn off the heat when the All Purpose Cream and Condense Milk is already warm. (do not over cook)
  4. slice the peaches and the mangoes (slant)
  5. make the first layer of the M.Y. San Grahams on the pyrex
  6. after the 1st layer of graham crackers, pour the warmed mixture (place only the right amount of the mixture so as it will fit for the whole recipe)
  7. place the sliced peaches or mangoes
  8. do step #5-7 until the container is almost full
  9. place the last layer of the mangoes or peaches then pour the crushed M.Y. San Grahams to the unfilled portions
  10. wrap it with a clean wrap (don't use foil because it generates water)
  11. store the freezer cake in the freezer
  12. Share and Enjoy!
Mangoes and Peaches Freezer Cake

Sunday, June 26, 2011

I've never been "in a relationship". (it's the truth.)

It's nice to reminisce but going back because of regret was never my option.


----o
I've never been "in a relationship". (it's the truth.)

My friends, ever since, they have been wondering why I am not.


At first, when I was a bit younger, it was never an issue for me for the circle of friends I am with had the same situation as mine.
You know, we just play games, play on ourselves and study, study and study. 
It's a typical: home-school-home.
But when I started to be more matured (not matured-looking), you know. 
My interest in watching movies, reading romantic novels and whatever teenager stuffs began.
I began to realize that 'sometimes' there's the need for my status to be changed. (you know, peer pressure at one point but hello, I'm just turning teen-hood at this point. what the hell am I talking about.)

When I actually stepped at the age of teen-hood. 
I felt 'insecure'. 
I don't feel attractive at all simply because I was not a 'perfect girl' material. 
I was small (at about 4" flat and never grew tall beyond 5"), I had a dark complexion (although I'm flawless naman, no scars at all), not too intelligent (I do belong to the cream class ever since but I haven't been at the top) and not beautiful, I mean not the typical beauty (I got short hair, big eyes and pouty-ish lips) . 
I'm just 'nice' and guys must admit, attitude is noticed next to face value. (or maybe it's just my generalization)

When I was at my adolescent period. 
I think I never changed, physically, unlike other girls at my age. 
They grew tall, their features developed into a lady-like look. 
They behavior changed, they act like real-grown-ups.

It was not an issue for me all the time, but then it became an issue when my (since I was in grade 03) 'puppy-crush' (and until now, he's still my crush. darn. what's with him.) for this classmate of mine 'grew-deep'.

However, I didn't do anything to impress him or catch his attention, I never tried to do things for him. I was not too attached with him. I was not that typical teenager that kept little things that made me 'kilig' overnight. I didn't cry myself to sleep just because I was too frustrated thinking what should I do for him to actually notice me. 
(and yeah, these are all lies. I did the total opposite. For once, I became a pathetic teen.)

I really don't care how I look nor how people see me at school. 
I've always been tagged as the "prim and proper" one. I wanted to make my parents hear nothing negative about me.
So I think, guys tend to feel intimidated with me or maybe I'm just unattractive.


Apparently, I was not unattractive at all, I got few suitors (naks. yeah, there were few who got blinded and courted me)
Attracted not because of my looks nor my brains (I'm not that intelligent at all) but my personality, which is I am proud of. 
Close friends of mine courted me but none of them end up being with me.


This has been a problem with me since then, I was so old fashion
I wanted long-term courting which, I think, has always been the reason why I end up being single. 
It's either they surrendered from courting me or find another who's more attractive.


I met my karma when I was between being teen and being an adult when I was about to enter college. 


(then suddenly, I will narrate my 1st-serious-whatever-you-call-it-thing)


It began during the summer vacation, a summer fling as I can consider it. 
I was depressed that summer after loosing my Inang. 
If you call it timing, I guess he arrived at the perfect timing. He arrived unexpectedly. 
I had no idea that we'd be more than just friends. I thought after summer he would just disappear, like what I always experience. But I proved myself wrong, it continued for three months since the classes began.


He always make an effort to meet me every Friday afternoon and accompany me going home from dorm. 
I remembered the first week I had stayed in dorm. He was more excited that me. He always checks me if I'm okay or if I already have peers to accompany me. 
Of course, we were just first year then, we have no idea what college life would be.


I have no idea that whats between us will persist, to think, it's really an effort to go from Pasay (where he study) to my boarding house near UST. 


One funny story behind the first time he went to the boarding house. 
I was not expecting that he would actually go there. 
Funny thing is, he walked from LRT Tayuman station to my dorm. It was afternoon then, the sun was freaking hot and the way from Tayuman station to my dorm was not close.
"Effort kung effort" yeah. yeah. I felt like I had a 'Rapunzel-hair' that moment when he reaches the boarding house, knock at the main door and when I opened it I saw this tall guy wiping the sweat all over his face down to his neck that made his school uniform a bit wet.


To sum up, I felt that this is it. I wasn't a mere fling-thingyy, finally, I was ready to change my status. I was really ready, I've never been this ready. 


And being ready led me to my very first matured heartbreak. (of course I had the immature heartbreak)


Enough of this, it just brings sad memories. It took me almost a year to forget and accept what happened between us. I was like, what?? this can't be happening, I was ready, everything's ready, all I just have to do is reply to his 'i-love-you-s' with the magic word.


Well maybe, blessing in disguise, I just told my self we were not meant to be. I don't deserve him, he doesn't deserve to be my 'first'.


I surpassed my promise to my self that I won't be having a boyfriend before I reach 18. And yes, I celebrated my 18th without a boyfriend. But who cares, I'm the celebrant.


But here's the catch, something happened in between the days. I'm not a big-time flirt that's why I don't have any idea why guys suddenly flirt me. (i termed it flirt because everyone else called it a flirt) We were friends and I don't know to him why suddenly we became close. 
I grew matured, I know the difference between friends and special friends and friends-that-are-up-to-something. Good thing nothing beyond flirt-thing happened.


Yeah, I stayed single and happy, but sometimes lonely, for another year.
-- I was an ugly duckling then finally, I had the courage to CUT MY HAIR, then became the swan.


Until this year's summer arrived.


(I got to say this first before the kilig stuffs get into)


Can you actually believe it? My killer smile actually captured the attention of one of the policemen of where I am getting police stories. (i really have witnesses about this) At first, I actually notice this police officer because he's the most neat of them all and that ended there. Suddenly, this police officer told a lie to my friend about  my pen I left at the police station, he used this to get my mobile number which is ALARMING. He always call me, I don't want to answer but at the same time I don't want to be rude. He even depended the decision of an outing with my other blockmates (also assigned at the station) to me which was suspicious.
The feeling was SCARY. He was like a stalker, no, an old guy who haunts a good girl.
I was really scared to the point that I don't want to go to the police station without my mentor and my co-trainees. I did all the excuses just not to be assigned there.
Thank God, after a while, he didn't bother me.


(back to the kilig stuffs)



I started my ojt, my summer, with a negative thinking because hey! I'm supposed to soak myself under the heat of the sun in the beach.
Good thing, a very huggable-savior-inside-the-court-room-for-the-first-day-of-my-ojt approached me. Actually, I was interested with him because we both love to travel, and that's a plus factor for guys because most of the time they don't like to travel to places.


But I was turned-off at once, after we ate lunch, he says excuse to me then went out to smoke. That's a BIG NO-NO-NO to me. (You were blessed with a healthy and well-functioning lungs and I was not given a pair of healthy lungs, You should appreciate that.) Major ekkk. I really don't like people who smoke (sorry but I'm really vocal about it). 


By the time he went back and sit with me, I didn't talked to him, although he doesn't have that smoker-smell, I just suddenly don't feel like talking to him. 


He was still talking to me while he was changing the lens of his camera (another plus factor for me, a guy who takes good photos is a so-so-so factor for me) and I was trying to be busy doing my article. 


When it's about to go, he walked few meters away from the table then reached my school I.D. and copied my name for the reason which I don't know until he sent a friend request in facebook and still I accepted this request despite the fact that he smokes and that bothers me. He asked my mobile number and I also give it to him. (halatang I was really into him, a bit.) He almost send me text messages at 5p.m. when all the press work is finished. I don't know to him, I really tried hard not to mind nor give meaning to whatever what was happening between him and I. It persisted for the whole time I've been ojt-ing. 


He throw this 'pick-up-line' that melted my brittle-longing-heart. "You should come with me next time :)" and "Let's travel together!".
I just love traveling and for sure I'd love traveling more when I could finally say "One hand on my camera and another holding yours." (yeah. that simple kilig chever. I'm into that. The bad effect of romantic movies) Days passed, and nothing happened. Nothing worth-chever happened. 


"There was never US, it was just YOU alone."
Oh di ba, akala ko sa mga teleserye at sa movies ko lang maririnig ang linyang yan. I didn't prepare myself for this line. And for the record, I was hurt, terribly hurt. I was not able to get mad at him, I never been mad at anyone, I was just hurt. 
I didn't talked to him after that, I never texted him, I never posted on his wall, I never send him personal message on fb chat. In short, I distance myself to him.


I never remember that I did anything for him to think that I was actually demanding LOVE from him, I never did that. But on what he said to me, I felt so PATHETIC that I am actually ASKING FOR LOVE. (I really felt that and I know he knew it). It's not only me that felt bad about what happened, he too apparently felt bad about it. 
He told me that hurting me was the least thing he could actually do. But I wanted to ask him, why you did?


He apparently did an effort for us to be okay, to save the friendship we have (again, he threw me movie-lines that sometimes make me want to forget what happened)
I tried but I think it was too hard. Until now, we really find it hard to begin conversations. A simple hi and hello became the hardest words to say. I find it awkward being friends to him again, I can't just deny the fact that I'm actually hurt.


(No one knows the story behind us, oopss behind him and me, I prefer not to tell anyone because I don't really know what to say)


(and while I was writing this, “Learn to understand others. Minsan di mo namamalayan, habang nasasaktan ka. mas nasasaktan siya." -a tweet from PapaJack)


At the beginning of the semester, few days before, here's another guy. 
He's a son of mommy's high school friends (na until now close pa rin niya) who suddenly started texting me like we were close. There was a group of mga children din ng batchmates ni mommy ang close and I was not close to them, just to some. 


I just actually texted him because I was delivering pastillas which her mom ordered. 
Then suddenly, this guy apparently updates me in whatever he does, when he wakes and sleeps, eats, plays basketball or go somewhere. Even the very detail that he and his long time girlfriend suddenly broke up. And why the hell he told me that? Am I supposed to care?


Then what am I now? A third party? (I don't want to feel that way but I felt that way, and the feeling was so confusing). It was complicated, pinopormahan mo ko pero siya pa rin ang laman ng albums mo? what the? Pwedeng wag akong idamay?
Good thing, now, everything went back to it's normal phase. They're good together that's why we got back to the old way we used to be.

And yes, I'm turning adulthood. A teen-no-more.
Actually, I am feeling the pressure now. My mentor made me feel this much pressure of being single at my age.
There's an "inflation rate", he says.
Actually, he wanted me to be in a relationship, whenever we go out for coverage or just eat out, he really pushes me to approach guys who are apparently noticing me from a distant. (Oh c'mon, I can't be that desperate to do that, like to take my mentor's advice on putting my name and mobile number on a piece of post it or a tissue paper)
He pushes me not for the sake of just having a relationship (or to have sex) but I know, he wants me to be happy. He wants a special someone to whom I can share stories of my life. And I really appreciate it.
I could never forget what he told me "Ay nako Bianca, dapat bago ka grumaduate magka-boyfriend ka na. Mas mahirap maghanap ng boyfriend kapag nagtratrabaho ka na."


My mom often tell other people who asks her if I have a boyfriend, "Feeling ko nga ang panget-panget ng anak ko eh, pinamimigay ko na nga wala pa ring kumukuha," 
It's a joke, but it pressures me. 
They've never been that strict to me (onto having suitors courting me at home or taking me to dates) and I guess, the problem is me. All this time, its me.


And I was like, yeah, the pressure is on!!


believe it or not, I don't want this pressure to stay long.
I don't want to have a boyfriend just to satisfy the much-awaited-part-of-my-life thingyy of the people who loves me.
I wanted to believe that when its the right time, he'll come, if its not, maybe I have to wait a little longer. (but damn, I have been waiting since... whatever.)



Then, I'm back to normal. (as of now.)
I've never been "in a relationship", I became it's complicated then I still end up "now" being single. (it's the truth.)

----o

from Every girl's guide to heartache by Marla Miniano

from Every girl's guide to heartache by Marla Miniano


Life does not end when circumstances change,
When relationships fail, 
when people leave, 
when hearts break;

When someone stops loving you (or refuses to love you in the first place)
Sunny skies mock cloudy eyes it is cold, 
cruel incongruity
Between us that hurts the most.

I just what to make it through, 
I just want to make it stop, 
they say it’s okay to pause sometimes, 
but I badly need to fast-forward to myself again.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

An ultimate travel destination dream -- Paris


 And I don't know why I just so love Paris.
Who wouldn't love it there?
Through photos, reviews, I feel I have been there.
That's one thing I promised to myself ever since.
That I'll work hard to earn money and go to my dream, to PARIS, FRANCE.

I'm such a childish one, I just want to see the Eiffel Tower and have a photo with it.
Then suddenly, it's more than that, I don't just want a picture with the Eiffel Tower, apparently, I wanted to experience the whole Paris thing.
Not just stare at the tower  and watch people pass by it. 
I want to experience the food, the shopping, the culture.
I suddenly want everything about the place.

I promised myself, I'll be at Paris no matter what.

I'll do it, SOON.
And yeah, I'm a Harry Potter kid.
No, I haven't read the book, I'm too lazy to do that. But hey, I watched all 7 films of it.

What would I do if Harry Potter will not be having it's next movie next year? 
It came to my senses that the last part of the series will be next month and after that, I won't be seeing nor hearing "Harry Potter now showing"

Some people think watching this kind of movies are "childish" or somewhat waste of time.
Yeah, there's no way that everything in the story will come true or will happen in real life but then people tend to indulge themselves onto things that may not happen for real but at least spending few hours for this stories will make them forget what the reality offers.
An escape to what is real. An opportunity to experience the world everyone dreams of. Like studying in a school like Hogwarts where everything is amazing.

Talking paintings, walking ghosts, moving staircases. And especially riding the Hogwart's Express. Damn, it's so cool.
Cool subjects, learn how to make potions, spells, ride the broom stick and tame extra ordinary creatures. 

How I wish it wouldn't have to end. I'll miss my fantasies Harry Potter story gave me.

From Harry's glasses, Hermione's thick hair, Ron's clumsiness, Hedwig's cuteness, Malfoy's rudeness, Professor Snape's freezing neck, Hagrid's big tummy that matched his big hair and Dumbledore's long beard.
I'll miss everything about my favorite of which I haven't missed even one part.

I guess, everything have just go to an end. 'The boy who lived...'


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The battle plan: to REMAIN FRIENDS

from Every girl's guide to heartache by Marla Miniano

Her battle plan?
To remain "friends"

This will be her excuse for everything:
for texting him, for calling him, for inviting him to parties, for giving him gifts, for rubbing her current suitors in his face in an attempt to make him jealous, for accidentally and conveniently showing up at his house while you are in the province for the weekend.

This will also be your boyfriend's excuse when you accuse him of still being in love with her, when you tell him you're not comfortable with the fact that they still seem so tight, when you ask him to please spend less time with her and more time with you.

"Nahihirapan din ang mga lalaki" : a reblog

(from The Lost Account:  http://markquitoy.wordpress.com/)
 
after reading, I found myself saying, "Oo nga no,"
---
"Nahihirapan din ang mga lalaki" 

*sindi ng yosi*
*hithit*
*buga*

Musta na, pare? Ako, okay lang. Eto.
Nagmumuni-muni. Nag-iisip.
Minsan talaga may mga bagay na hindi
ko maintindihan. Ewan ko ba.

*hinga ng malalim*

Bakit ba ganun pare? ilang beses ko na
pinag-aralan pero lagi na lang
lumalabas na parang kahit ‘sang anggulo
mo tingnan, hindi nagiging
patas para sa mga lalake ang ilang
bagay pagdating sa pagmamahal.

*tingin sa stars*

Minsan naiisip ko, alam kaya ng mga
babae ang hirap ng lalake na gumawa
ng first move para
magtapat ng pagmamahal?
E yung hirap na
dinadaanan sa panliligaw sa
mahal nya? Ang feeling ng masaktan pag
nabasted?

*hithit*

Malamang-lamang siguro, hindi ano.

*buga*

Wala naman yata silang alam
sa mga paghihirap naten e.
Ang alam lang ata nila e mamili,
manakit, at magsaya. Tingin mo?

*tingin sa malayo*

Lagi naman ganun.
Una pa lang, lalake na ang
naghihirap.
Hassle saten ang panliligaw pero
bago pa yun, kung ano-ano pang diskarte ang
gagawin naten para masabi sa kanila na
mahal natin sila.
Alam kaya nila yun?
Mahirap magsabi na
mahal mo na yung babae, diba?
Tapos liligawan pa naten. .
Patutunayan na mahal nga sila.

*hit hit*
*buga*

Maghahatid sa bahay, tutulungan,
sasabayan, pakakainin, pagtyatyagaan,
lahat na.
Kulang na lang e pagsilbihan mo
nang walang sahod.
At ano ang kapalit?
Well, depende sa trip nila.

*nag ring ang cellfone*
- hello? ah, o sige. tawagan kita mamaya. wag ka umiyak, pangit naman si constantine eh. oo, mamaya. love you, bye. –

*sindi ng yosi*
*hit hit*

Oo tol..

*buga*

Sa trip lang nila. Wala silang pake
kesehodang mahal talaga natin sila.
Basta ang alam nila,
pag di nila tayo trip,
isang malaking HINDE ang makukuha naten,
kahit umiyak pa tayo ng dugo o lumuhod
o lumuhod sa mga
asing buu-buo.
Para lang silang namimili ng damit na
di man lang sinusukat bago ayawan.
Kaya kahit
mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal natin,
sorry tayo.
Hindi nila alam kung
mahal mo sila.
Kailangan mong maabot ang
kanilang mga standards,
kundi uuwi ka lang na badtrip,
iiling-iling, at minsan, luhaan.

*tingin sa langit*

Wala tayong magagawa, marami silang
alibi..
“Hindi pa ‘ko ready eh..”,
“Sorry pero I think we should just be
friends..”,
“Ha? Uhhmm.. nagpapatawa ka ba?
Hahahaha..”
“Better luck next time na lang muna,
okay lang?”,
“Give me a decade. Pag-iisipan ko
muna..”,
“Para lang kitang kapatid e..”,
..yaddah yaddah.
Isang malaking pagsasaklob ng
langit at lupa ‘yon para saten.
pero tol..
ano?

*hit hit*

hindi naman ata nila alam yun eh.
parang sabi mo, laro laro.
chempuhan lang.

*kuha ng bote ng beer*
*lagok*
*lunok*

At hindi lang ‘yon tol. Sa pre-relationship
stage pa lang yon.
Pag sinagot na nila tayo,
satin pa rin ang hassle.
Tayo daw ang mga
lalake kaya tayo ang
hahawak ng relasyon.
Tayo ang aayos kung may
gulo;
tayo ang dapat magpapakabait;
tayo ang magtatyaga;
tayo ang magiging devoted at faithful;
tayo, tayo, tayo.

*apak sa yosi*

Sila? Ummm? Teka, isipin ko.
Ayun. Sila ang magsasabi
kung anong oras kayo
dapat magmeet;
sila ang magtetext ng mga
mushy at kabalbalang texts;
sila ang magdedemand
sayo ng kung anu-ano;
sila ang magbabawal;
sila ang magsasabi kung
kelan ka dapat mag-shave,
kung kelan ka pwedeng
tumawag sa bahay nila,
kung kelan sila di dapat
badtripin dahil meron sila,
at kung kelan ka korni.
Ewan. Ganun ata talaga.

*kuha ng bote ng beer*
*lagok*
*lunok*

Hindi pa yun tapos pare,
dahil dapat tayo ang
bahala kung ano ang
magiging takbo ng relasyon.
Pag maganda,
edi okay.
Pag may problema,
kasalanan naten.
Haay buhay.
Minsan talaga kung
tutuusin sakit sila ng ulo.
Kaya lang ganon natin sila kamahal eh,
kaya di na natin iniintindi yun.

*hinga ng malalim*

Alam mo tol,
feeling ko mas sincere pa tayo
magmahal sa kanila.
Alam mo yun,
iba tayo magmahal e.
Iniisip kasi nila,
pare-pareho ang lahat ng lalaki.
Hindi lang parang laru-laro lang.
Seryoso…

*tingin sa semento*
*hinga ng malalim*
*iyak*

Sunday, June 19, 2011

(the sad reality behind it)

(the sad reality behind it)

It really is goodbye -- for now.

May 27

Now, it’s for real. It is really my last day of ojt. I can’t extend anymore simply because I’ll be back in school two weeks from now.

I was really sad today. It’s been almost 2 months since I started my ojt.

It was not on my plan to apply in Philippine Star, I must admit I was really looking forward on applying in Philippine Daily Inquirer, but failed.

During my first week in ojt, all I wanted is for it to finish because of too much nervousness with my mentor.

I thought having mg ojt this summer instead of soaking myself under the heat of the sun of which what I am used to do will be a the biggest ‘fail summer’ I’ll ever had.

I proved myself wrong, definitely wrong.

I was not able to enjoy my summer as a vacation, but I enjoyed it working my skill, my craft, and my passion.
 
I was not expecting to learn this far in a span of months of unending training.
Reading, writing, listening, understanding, these were just some of my skills enhanced during my ojt.

I was really attached to the extent that I loved what I am doing more than anything else. I learned to sacrifice a lot of things, revoked every opportunity of vacation just not to miss important coverage and stories.

I have met a lot of important personalities that made me understand things on a deeper side.

I know I would not be able to assure myself that I will still experience this kind of love of work once I am the one on the field, no supervisions, all by myself.

I may not end up writing for a good paper nor may I not end up practicing my skill. Having my ojt gave me that once in a lifetime experience to learn everything that made me a better person, a better person on my chosen field.

p.s. I owe everything to Sir Ren, he did not only teach me, he inspired me.



i'll be missing the DENR press office, which became my training home...
The trainee's work area, the DENR press office living room (the seat adjacent from where I always sit at), thanks for the comfort you gave me.

The DENR phone and fax machine which gave me a really good help on contacting my sources.

the first Saturday work we had, that end up a bonding day for us...
The Krispy Kreme treat for my co-trainees :)
The real-field experience, thanks to camp karingal


The Public Information Office of QCPD with Ma'am Joey and Sir Jorge


The Crime Investigation and Detention Unit, where I experienced almost the weirdest thing I had imagined.



Because I miss my work and my mentor misses me :)

May 24

Because I miss my work and my mentor misses me. I have decided that instead of spending my few vacation days at home doing nothing, I decided to go back to work.

Today was the most frightening day for me. I have experienced dealing with police reports for the past days of my ojt, but today was the very first time I encountered a firsthand encounter at the crime scene, where everything is FRESH.

It was around past 5pm and we were about to go home after we finished our articles when a news broke over the radio. It was about an ambush of a police officer along Visayas Avenue. 

Guess what, we were (at the DENR press office) just a few meters away from the crime scene.

My mentor decided to take us on the crime scene.
We walked from DENR to the crime scene instead of riding the jeepney because it was already traffic.

Walking itself was really tiring; we were hurrying before the corpse of the policeman is carried out of the scene.

Upon getting there, suddenly I felt my knees shacking, feet less, headless and I can’t really explain how I felt upon seeing the body bloodied slumped on the sidewalk.

I was few meters away from the body, my co-trainees and my mentor was closer to the corpse. I presented to hold my mentor’s laptop instead of going near the corpse.

I didn’t see his face I was not brave enough to see it. I felt like I was going to collapse because I’m really scared of blood, and what I am seeing was not only a pinch of blood, he was bloodied.

After a while, my mentor called us then instructed us to interview some bystanders that might have saw what happened.

I was really out of myself that time, I was not on focus on what should I do.

But I must do my job, I roam around the crime scene then luckily I saw a man shaking, looking nervous, and talking to three people. I joined their conversation.

Luckily, I got a very crucial detail about the incident. My hands were shaking so I was not able to write what he was saying; instead I just recount every detail he says.

Upon going back to DENR, we started to do the article for submission to the Metro editor. It was like a whirlwind experience.
Getting the information, first hand, then doing the article itself right on the spot.

Believe me, we haven't ate anything of red sauce for days because of the incident.