Day: August 8, 2010

Adobo

~ eydnel ~ 4 Comments

Today, I cooked adobo.

I met a new friend yesterday. We went to a nice restaurant along the River Thames overlooking Tower Bridge. Whilst the place and the menu are excellent, he would, in several instances, mention how he loves Filipino food. If only I know a nice, decent Filipino restaurant in London, I would have probably offered to bring my new Argentinian-cum-Italian-religious-brother-friend there right away.

For more than 5 hours, our conversations travelled across the world. From Vatican to Peru to China – talking about literature, history, languages, theater, food, people and of life in general.  But he did ask me one personal question – ‘Adnelle, do you know how to cook?’.

I answered reluctantly, ‘No, but if and when needed, I can put something together.’ He then told me that he thinks I can cook, I just have to believe that I can.

So today, when I woke up, remembering the challenged I was given by my new friend last night, plus after starving myself the whole week, I decided I will prepare something. The safest dish to try is, what else but every Filipino’s favourite – Adobo.

I think there are 3 important ingredients in discovering what and how well we can do something – 1) a pinch of courage to at least try; 2) a spoonful of enthusiasm to do it with fun and not be afraid of failing; and 3) a cup of openness where you let others either affirm or criticize you.

We agreed to meet again soon, before he flies back to Rome – I will probably offer to cook and offer him a menu of Filipino dishes. We’ll see.

Tuesdays @ FFI – Two Words p2

~ eydnel ~ 6 Comments

In my previous blog, I did put a note that it is to be continued. A friend expressed that she is actually wondering how I can pull off an ending to that blog. I also do not know. I just felt that it is incomplete.

I came to write that first blog after downloading the song ‘Two Words’ from iTunes, listening to it (without exaggeration) more than 100 times and watching two youtube versions – one when Lea Salonga sang it in one of her concerts years ago and the other one when she sang the song at her wedding.

I tried to stay away from the context of ‘I do’ between two people. I wanted to focus on the many ‘I do’s’ we profess in our daily lives. Thus, the first blog. But, I did not want to leave it just like that.

I wanted to pay tribute to a beautifully crafted song – from its lyrics, melody, arrangement and the way it was soulfully sang by one of the greatest performers I’ve known in my lifetime.  She sang it in two different occasions – first as a duty to perform, the second as an expression of lifetime commitment where life is offered.

In life, we do so many things as part of our professional commitments. I yearn for that day when I can truly tell myself that what I do is not a duty dictated by my job, that what I do is an expression of service not only to fulfill a dream but to find meaning in my chosen vocation.

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