My favorite tokua recipe
I just want to share this tokua (tofu) recipe that I dug up from the yellowing pages of my grandmother’s cook book. As far as I know, there are no other postings on the net about this recipe. Well, not unless the keywords that I typed on Google search were wrong, I haven’t found any similar tofu recipe. I already tried this recipe and it was gastronomically satisfying (at least as far as my wife’s and my own judgments are concerned). This recipe is a healthy substitute for meat recipes. However, you do not have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this recipe.
The picture that you see here is not the actual photograph of the cooked version of the recipe. This picture is just for visual purposes. Anyway, without further adieu, here is the recipe:
TOKUA FRICASSEE
Ingredients:
- Tokua, 7 cakes
- Tomatoes (big), 3
- Bread crumbs, 3 cups
- Vegetable fat, 2 tablespoons
- Water, 1 cup
- Onion, 1
- Garlic, as desired
- Red pepper (sweet, chopped), 1
- Green pepper (sweet, chopped), 1
- Soy sauce, 2 tablespoons
- Vetsin, 1 teaspoon
- Salt, to taste
Procedure:
Dice the potatoes, and fry them. Sprinkle the tokua with salt, and fry it until it turns a golden brown. Cut the tukua into cubes of desired size. Sauté the garlic, onion, and tomatoes in the vegetable fat (butter may also be used). Then add soy sauce and tokua. Cover the mixture and let it boil a few minutes. Add 1 cup of water (or rice water), salt, peppers, and fried potatoes. Boil the mixture for a few minutes, and thicken it with bread crumbs. Serve it hot.
Burden of Proof
Logically speaking, when a positive assertion or proposition is asserted, the burden of proof always lies on the one who is making the proposition. We, atheists, do not need to present any proof when we say that gods (including the Judeo-Christian god) and the supernatural do not exist. The positive assertion is always made by the believers and not by the unbelievers.
However, some would say that the “absence of proof is not the proof of absence.” If this reasoning is valid, then, it follows that all beliefs and assertion, no matter how ridiculous and improbable can be considered truthful. For instance, I could assert that there is actually a little green dragon that is living inside my ear. This assertion is true simply because I declare it to be true and I do not have any shred of evidence to support it. If this reasoning is true, then, all religions are equally valid. For instance, Hinduism is as truthful as Christianity. There is actually a triune god. The names of these persons in the triune god are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – also known as the creator, preserver, and destroyer, respectively. However, I do not think that the so-called Christians would agree, in spite of the similarities in concepts.
Creation or Evolution?
Basically, there are two conflicting theories about the origin of the universe and the origin of life. The most popular theory is the theory of creationism. This theory is believed by many to be the most truthful explanation about the cosmos and about ourselves. Creationism theory is an ancient theory. It is a well-established theory. Many powerful and respectable institutions (namely churches) were founded based on the creationism theory. Fundamentally, creationism theory proposes that the universe and life were created and being sustained by a supreme being. Most great world religions such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism firmly believe in the existence of a supreme creator. This creator or god is called by many names and endowed with many absolute characteristics such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and omni-benevolence. In other words, this supreme being is the most perfect being.
However, do his so-called creations and the mechanism involved reflect the supposed perfect nature of god? If the Judeo-Christian faith is to be consulted, it asserts that human life was especially created for a special purpose. Hence, human beings are the pinnacle of god’s creation. Humans are even said to be created from the image of god. This concept is truly inspiring. However, it is very doubtful. The creation story stated in the bible has all the characteristics of mythology. Some scholars even discovered that the entire book of genesis was based on the more ancient Epic of Gilgamesh that was written by the Babylonians.
Pascal’s Wager
Pascal’s Wager refers to the philosophical defense for the existence of God. This philosophical assertion was named after the great philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal. Blaise Pascal was a genius of many interests and achievements. He was a true polymath. Among his significant contributions was the development of the very first analog computer. Some consider Pascal to be the father of modern-day computer science. Pascal’s genius was beyond the reach of most people of his time. Even today, there are few giant intellects that are comparable to Pascal. However, Pascal was not omniscient. He never claimed any knowledge of absolute truth. However, his defense regarding the existence of God was convincing for most people. Even some theologians quote Pascal when it comes to rational proof about God’s existence.
As the name suggests, Pascal’s wager was stated in the form of wager or bet. The Pascal’s Wager can be roughly summarized as follow: “If there is a God and you believe in him, you have gained everything. However, if there is no God and you believe in him, you have lost nothing.” Conversely, this statement can be re-stated in this form: “If there is no God and you don’t believe, you have gained nothing. However, if there is a God and you do not believe, you have lost everything.” At first glance, Pascal’s Wager seems very convincing. However, it has some logical flaws.
Image International 2007 Photo Contest
Photo Life Magazine
presents
Image International 2007 Photo Contest
Photographers worldwide are invited to send their best shots in the following categories:
- A WORLD OF PEOPLE
- NATURE AND LANDSCAPES
- TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
More info on Image International 2007 Photo Contest at Shutter Box Philippines.
A Long Overdue Long Story
I look at my archives and say, “Dang! I’m lagging!” and I’m sure regular readers and visitors have noticed the same thing. So what have I got to say for myself?
I’m a very busy woman. So just imagine if I have a sex love life. 
To make up for my absence, let me present you all with the usual long blog entry that’ll bore you to tears. It’s quite a read because I’ve felt sexually deprived for the past few days as I haven’t been writing much lately. Beware, this is a blog entry of stories full of links.
- Blog and Soul Movement & Mrs. Fields, August 21
- Taste Asia Bloggers’ Food Fest Part 2, August 23
- My Father’s Birthday, August 24
- WikiPilipinas Pinoy Bloggers Dinner, August 31
- The 28th Manila International Book Fair, September 2
- Elancyl Anti-Cellulite Launch at Ayala Museum, September 6
- Bloggers Focus Group Discussion, September 7
- Blogger’s Kapihan, September 8
Blogger Play
Tulad nga ng sabi ni Ms. Aileen, bagum-bago at mainit-init pa! 
Subukan nyo na rin ang Blogger Play.
aileenapolo “new on blogger, as in mainit pa!… BLOGGER PLAY http://play.blogger.com/ (photos being uploaded real time)”
Sana pwedeng ma-filter at magawang pinoy blogs lang ang makita ko hehehe. Pwede kaya?
PBS Forum Update: “Review My Blog”
BLOGYaNiHaN mode ulit tayo mga kasama…
If you want your blog to be reviewed, criticized (constructive only), we have a category here: http://www.pinoyblogosphere.org/index.php/board,25.0.html
Overall Blog Review Request (content, likeness, design, marketing, etc.)
Mayor Jess Robredo
Mayor Jess Robredo of Naga City is the best mayor that this country has. I am saying this not because Mayor Robredo is the mayor of my home city. I am saying this because it is the self-evident truth. The numerous prestigious awards and accolades that Mayor Robredo has received are the proofs of his excellent accomplishments as a local chief executive. Among his many laurels, Mayor Robredo is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service. This award is widely recognized as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. There are only a handful of Filipinos who have received this great honor. The award was not an accomplishment in itself. The award was just recognition of Mayor Robredo’s real accomplishments in government service.
The people of Naga City love Mayor Robredo. If the Nagueños could elect a king, they would elect Robredo as monarch for life. Robredo’s accomplishments as local chief executive are wide and far reaching. Robredo has transformed the many aspects of Naga City for the better. Before Mayor Robredo took the helm of leadership, Naga was a fifth-class city. Today, Naga is a first class city. Robredo’s leadership revitalized the slumbering economy of Naga. His administration restructured the decadent patronage political system of Naga. The hiring and promotion of employees became merit-based instead of patronage-based. Even the awarding of bids and contracts became merit-based. Robredo eliminated the culture of corruption that long-permeated the government structure of Naga.
Guilty Verdict
After six years, the long wait is finally over. The guilty verdict has been finally reached upon and announced by the special division of the Sandigan Bayan (people’s tribunal). Former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada has been found guilty of plunder, beyond reasonable doubt. The reading of the decision was a historic event. For the very first time in Philippine history, a former president has been convicted of a crime.
However, was it just a political decision, as some would insinuate? Was the court truly independent? The slow pace of the judicial process has been a fanfare for the media for the past six years. Surprisingly, the media never lost interest in the case. It was surprising, considering that the Philippine media and the Filipino audience have very short attention span. Was it then a public trial? Perhaps, the attention given on the Erap trial was an aberration. However, Erap’s case was special. It was the biggest criminal trial that the Philippine judicial system has ever handled. This is because the person involved is, to some extent, an extraordinary man. He once held the highest office of the land.
