Vegetarian Recipe: Banana Oatmeal Cake

Ever wanted to have an ever ready healthy snack at your disposal in your refrigerator? Here's a recipe (good for two people to be eaten bit by bit each day) that will last for a week.

Banana Oatmeal Cake Ingredients:
.10 medium size ripe bananas
.1/4 cup peanuts
.2 cup oatmeal
.1 1/4 cup flour
.1/2 cup water
.6 tbs milk powder
.1/3 cup brown sugar
.2 eggs
.1/2 tsp baking soda
.1/2 tsp salt

In a bowl, mashed the bananas and peanuts. After mashing the bananas and peanuts, add the oatmeal and flour. Then mix. In another bowl, mix the water, milk powder, sugar, eggs, baking soda, and salt. In this wet mixture, add the banana-peanut-oatmeal-flour mixture. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Bake this in a microwave oven at medium heat for 18 minutes.

Study finds lesbian/bisexual Filipina women more likely to attempt to commit suicide compared to heterosexual counterparts

"Sexual minority (lesbian/bisexual) Filipina women were up to twice more likely to report having thought about committing suicide and having attempted to commit suicide, compared to heterosexual counterparts," a new study says.

Eric Julian Manalastas, faculty member of the Department of Psychology, University of the Philippines Diliman, in a study on "Women's Sexual-Minority Status and Suicide Risk", reported that the sexual minority status of lesbian/bisexual Filipina women was "robustly associated with both suicide ideation and suicide attempt."

"Based on a nationally representative sample, same-sex sexual orientation appears to be related to elevated suicide risk among young Filipina women," the study says.

The study finding was based on a national survey of 8,922 Filipina women ages 15 to 24 from 16 administrative regions in the Philippines.

With this finding, Mr. Manalastas gave these recommendations:
1. Run a within-group analysis (i.e., LGB only, no more heteros) to investigate minority stress processes like internalized homophobia;
2. Spread the word to Filipino mental health professional community; and
3. Spread the word to LGBT groups and stakeholders.

The Manalastas & del Pilar study in 2005 finds that in a heterosexist culture like the Philippines, being lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transexual (LGBT) confers minority status. The 2005 study says 1 out of 4 Filipinos do not want LGBT people as neighbors and 28% consider being lesbian/gay as “can never be justified.”

What do you think could be the preventive measures to prevent young Filipina lesbian/bisexual women from attempting to commit suicide?

Vegetarian Recipe: Garlic Sauce

Garlic sauce is a great match to chapati. Dip the chapati to garlic sauce--just yummy!

Ingredients for Garlic Sauce:
.1 cup milk
.1/2 tsp olive oil
.1/2 tsp salt

.1 tsp brown sugar

. kalamansi juice (from 6 small kalamansi)

.4 boiled potatoes
.2 boiled eggs
.1 clove garlic (fried and chopped)

In a bowl, mix the milk, oil, salt, sugar, and kalamansi juice. In another bowl, mashed the potatoes, eggs, and garlic. Then mix all the ingredients. There goes your garlic sauce. Enjoy!

What it's like to travel as an out lesbian couple?

June 17, 2009 1:19 PM, Anonymous commented on the Sitangkai "Venice of the South" blog post: "as travelling to this place without a male companion is taken as something out of this world, i am wondering what it's like to travel there as an out lesbian couple?"

That was such an important comment/question. Here is my reply: "Everything about our travel to Sitangkai was pleasant. Thus, we encourage you ladies to travel to this beautiful place. Like any travel though to off the beaten tracks, travel to this place should be planned--research, research, precautions, precautions.

"In travelling to Sitangkai, we recognized the sensitivity of the locals to women travellers. Recognizing this, we did not further challenge them on a further sensitive issue--that of lesbianism; thus PDA (public display of affection) was a no no then. It's a tough world, indeed. But, hey, let the locals be used to women travellers. Hopefully in time, the world would turn around and lesbian travellers would just be an accepted occurrence to them."

Same-sex partners to get US fed benefits

The Associated Press reported today that US President Barack Obama is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

What about those who do not work for the federal government? What protection will they receive from the government? The Obama administration is short changing the gay and lesbian community still.

This is a step forward though compared to the Arroyo administration's turning a blind eye to the plight of gays and lesbians in the Philippines.

Protections for Lesbian Partners

Marriage has always been viewed as a religious practice, more so in my country Philippines whereby majority of the population is Catholic.

After living together through "rotten and bliss" for close to a decade, my partner and I plan to get married--one day if the law will allow us-- not for religious intentions but for the legal protection that marriage would breath to us as a lesbian couple.

Like many countries in the world, the Philippines, in particular Article 1 of the Family Code law states, "Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman ...."

What about the permanent union between a "woman and a woman"?

The Alternative Law Groups (ALG) in the Philippines is calling that the current definition of family includes the non-traditional families such as gay or lesbian couples living together. Also, the rights group Project Equality is pushing for the benefits for same-sex partners, in particular the granting of next-of-kin status for same-sex couples.

As we shout for the enactment of a law or a Supreme Court ruling that recognizes the permanent union of gay and lesbian couples, what are our alternatives meanwhile here?

As my partner and I are partners, not only in life but in business, we see to it that our properties are in co-owners status. We also keep in tow two documents: a special power of attorney and a will to protect each other when the rotten days come.

Vegetarian Recipe: Lacto-Vegetarian Pizza

Love a totally vegetarian pizza but I just can't resist the cheese. Thus, I settle for a lacto-vegetarian pizza. Lacto-vegetarian? Well, the complete term is actually lacto-ovo vegetarian (ovo means eggs and lacto means dairy); that is, one vegetarian who does not eat meat but is willing to consume dairy and egg products.

Lacto-vegetarian Pizza Ingredients:
A. Ingredients for Pizza Dough
.2 cups flour
.1 pinch salt
.1 pinch black pepper
.1/2 tbs brown sugar
.1 tsp olive oil
.3/4 cup water

B. Toppings Ingredients
.1 onion
.1 tomato
.2 bell pepper
.1/8 tsp each of basil, parsley, oregano, and thyme
.10 pcs small mushroom leaves
.1 x 2.5-inch cheddar cheese (shred)
.2 1/2 tbs tomato sauce

In a bowl, mix all dry dough ingredients such as flour, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients such as water, sugar, and oil. Then, mix the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Knead the wet-dry-mixture or dough for 7 minutes. Flatten the dough and form a circle with a rolling pin or with your hands (yes, you can!). On top of this flattened, circular dough, place all the toppings. Cook this in the microwave oven in high heat for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is brown.

Travel Destination: Sitangkai "Venice of the South"

It's my job to travel around the Philippines. Don't ask me why. In my many travels, one travel destination happens to be most memorable. This is Sitangkai town in the province of Tawi-Tawi.

Sitangkai is known as the "Venice of the South" due to the use of boats as primary transportation. The floating market of Sitangkai where locals sell fresh catch such as giant squid, tuna, sting ray is something to behold.

I travelled to Sitangkai with my partner. To travel to Sitangkai without a male companion, is something that the locals can't comprehend. But they'll admire you for visiting their place. "Matatapang na babae (Brave women)," one local told us.

We had a splendid time in Sitangkai.

Movie Review: Imagine Me and You

Last night was movie night. For the nth time, we re-watched the movie "Imagine Me and You".

In the genre of romantic comedy, not the straight films, of course, this movie tops the list--not that the list is long with the shortage of lesbian movies.

What is truly amazing in this movie is that a "woman-loving-another-woman" thing is taken as a matter of fact; that it is something natural. I wish life were like this though. But, hey, at least in this movie, this happens.

With this issue laid to rest, the movie delves on issues such as whether love at first sight actually happens and moving on when love is gone in a relationship.

Another pull factor to this movie is the amazing chemistry of the lead actresses Piper Perabo and Lena Heady. And who can resist watching the make-out scenes of these two gorgeous ladies?

Vegetarian Recipe: Chapati

My partner and I have been having this breakfast menu: vegetable salad, hot kalamansi juice, chapati (Indian flatbread), and fried egg for weeks now. I've already posted on this blog vegetable salad and hot kalamansi juice recipes. By now you must know how to fry an egg. Thus, I'll focus on how to make chapati.

Ingredients of Chapati (good for 13 small size Chapatis):
.3 cups of whole wheat flour
.1/3 tsp salt
.1 cup water

In a bowl, mix the salt, flour, and water. Be sure to mix the salt and flour first. Knead (to mix by folding, pressing, and stretching with the hands) for 5-8 minutes the salt-flour-water mixture. Use a bit of extra flour to prevent the mixture from sticking into your hands. Make 13 small balls. Use a rolling pin (cylindrical food preparation utensil) to shape and flatten each ball.

Heat a frying pan. Individually cook the flattened salt-flour-water mixture into the frying pan for 2 minutes on each side. And voila, that's your chapati. We don't actually flatten and cook all 13 balls in one sitting; instead 9 of those are stored into the ref for later use.

Also, great to dip chapati into garlic sauce. Soon, garlic sauce recipe will be posted on this blog.

Book Review: Just Say Yes by Judith McDaniel

In a world where straight books abound, it really is a treasure find to find a lesbian book in a booksale.

For only Php 40, I bought this book "Just Say Yes" by Judith McDaniel. The book was published in 1991 by Firebrand Books.

The catchy title and the word "lesbian" at the book's backcover were all it takes to convince me to grab the book fast. And I'm glad I did.

It's a book that you can finish in one sitting due its large fonts and only 172-page long, unless though you want to take a needed break--perhaps a cold shower among other things--due to the book's vivid exposition on the art of lesbian lovemaking.

In a world where homophobia still exists, the book is an important reading material on how to fight back in a non-violent way. The book also stressed safe lesbian sex.

Travel Destination: Camiguin

One of the travel destinations that I keep coming back to is Camiguin. Why do I keep coming back to this paradise?

I'm lucky I live near Camiguin, thus travelling there is not that expensive. Least expensive way to reach this island is via boat. Gazing from the boat, there's something about this island, from its beaches to its volcanic mountains that makes me a appreciate life more--glad that I'm alive.

Best activity in Camiguin is biking around the island's 64-kilometer circumferential road. It took me 13 hours the first time around, including the pit stops to enjoy the view--well, mostly to catch my breath.

Most of the lovely beaches in the island are not crowded. Under a great coconut tree shade, one can spread a towel on the sand, sleep on it or read a book. Then, just jump into the sea for a swim. That's paradise for me. What's your paradise?

Vegetarian Recipe: Hot Kalamansi Juice

It has become a habit of mine to drink something hot every morning. Coffee then seemed to be the ideal energy morning booster. Needing something with nutritional value, I now substitute coffee with hot kalamansi juice.

Kalamansi is a native citrus plant cultivated throughout the Philippines. It is a good source of vitamin c. According to the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos 2000 developed by the Technical Working Group headed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, one should consume two servings of kalamansi fruit daily. Said serving ranges from 45 to 300 grams, depending on the size and variety of fruit. Thirty-four medium sized pieces of kalamansi are needed to meet the daily requirement of vitamin C. Kalamansi is also a good substitute to vinegar in making vegetable salad.

Ingredients for Hot Kalamansi Juice (Good for one serving):
.6 medium size Kalamansi fruit
.1/2 tbs brown sugar
.1 cup hot water

Extract juice from kalamansi fruit. Mix kalamansi juice, sugar, and hot water.

Raving over Otalia

All over the world, thanks to the internet, gay women are raving over a fictional couple collectively called "Otalia". Count me in as one of the gay women raving over these two.

Crystal Chappell plays Olivia, one half of Otalia; while Jessica Leccia plays Natalia, the other half of Otalia, on the world's longest-running tv soap opera "Guiding Light".

Otalia best portrays on tv/internet the love between two women. My partner and I can relate very much to the Otalia story, in particular to the point that love just doesn't happen in an instant but develops through time beginning with friendship, to the awkwardness, to the stalling in expressing this love physically.

Crystal and Jessica's acting are way astounding. Sometimes I forget that they are only acting and that they have their own lives to live. It also doesn't hurt that these two are hotties.

For a complete Otalia backstory, visit OtaliaSocial and Willowtarafan channel. For updated videos, visit Yodaluver channel and Otaliafan channel.

Vegetarian Recipe: Vegetable Salad

One of the things that I learned to love to eat is vegetable salad. Learned is the operative word as I once loathed this dish.

It was during my visit to Germany a decade ago that I learned to appreciate this dish. My good old German friends served this delectable vegetable
salad.

Like all my recipes here, I changed some ingredients. Changes in ingredients are based on availability, better nutritional value, and price.

Vegetable Salad Ingredients (Good for two people):
. 4 leaves Chinese pechay
.1/2 carrot
.1/2 radish
.1/2 cucumber
.1 tomato
.1 red onion
. Kalamansi Juice (from 5 pieces). Kalamansi, a native and widely cultivated in the Philippines, is a small citrus fruit.
.1/4 tsp salt
.1 tbs brown sugar
.1/2 tsp olive oil

Thoroughly wash all the vegetables. Slice all the vegetables into small pieces. In a bowl, mix the kalamansi juice, salt, sugar, olive oil, and all the vegetables. Be sure sure to mix all the wet ingredients before mixing the vegetables in. Enjoy :)

Coming out. To label or not to label

I came out late in life (in my late 20s), not because I was afraid of society's repercussions, but because it was late in life that I became physically attracted to someone of the same sex. Prior then, I was only attracted to the opposite sex.

I am a lady who loves another lady. So, what does that make me? A lesbian? Do I have to label this? As the birds and bees even have labels, I have to label this--if only for the purpose of visibility that indeed a lady-loving-another-lady is but normal. Ok, call me a lesbian.