knickerbocker: the healthy dessert imitation from manila

One Sunday, I was craving for fruit. Then came an ‘aha’ moment and mental images of SM Supermarket’s salad bar. We were at SM already. I love Providence! Cravings need not leave my pocket empty right? Amazing thing is, I still had P55 left after buying twistix for the first time at gateway foodcourt. (Take note of the P55.):

< i know, i look… weird. the twistix looks cute.

So I rushed to the salad bar, delighted by another ‘aha’ moment – knickerbocker glory!

Let me explain. Weeks ago, I enjoyed a favorite Zamboangan dessert, the knickerbocker. It is a version of fresh fruits salad with gelo at the bottom and ice cream on top.:

< really poor cell camera shot here w/ poor lighting & melting ice cream. believe me, it looks better in real life. And tastes better than how it looks!

Well… the SM Salad Bar happens to offer the same ingredients found in the knickerbocker minus the ice cream. apple, mango, melon, watermelon, pineapple, gelo, cream… and a few more like dragon fruit, corn and grapes:

Photo by FRANCES CRISOL. Taken from http://www.philstar.com/

So I mixed my concoction of salad bar fruits, knickerbocker style… and guess what? It really does taste like the one I had at Paseo del Mar Zamboanga City. Costed me only P55.75. Almost the exact money I have in my pocket. Next time, I’ll add some cherries (which were not available at the bar but I have them in my fridge) and ice cream! Gloreee!

(Is there) Room for Prayer?

ERRATUM: The original post says that there is a prayer room for Muslims in ADZU. The more accurate information would be is that there is an Ecumenical (meaning for all religions) prayer room but that prayer room is most maximized by the Muslims.
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One of the highlights of my trip to Zamboanga City two weeks ago was my visit to Ateneo de Zamboanga (ADZU), where I learned (and saw for myself) that the Muslims have dominated the prayer room in this campus.

Muslims' Ecumenical Prayer Room in Ateneo de Zamboanga campus

Coming from Manila, I am not that familiar with the Muslims’ culture of prayer. Someone in our YWAM class shared about their culture to us but I never really got to see it for myself. When we reached this corridor where the prayer room is, it was evident that someone inside was praying. Well, maybe there was more than one, but we were sure that there was at least one. We could hear him loud and clear from outside. I took a video so you can also hear what we heard:

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam *zambo day 6

I didn’t expect that I will get invited to exhort at a church’s Wednesday prayer meeting. It was a small group of around 50, mostly youth. When I got to Zamboanga, I was actually in need of rest and restoration. I need to be revived. I was still on fire for God’s cause by my inner strength was dwindling. My intimacy with the Lord, groping for depth and stillness.

I knew I had to get my heart ready for this 20-minute talk. I spent the afternoon before the 6pm meeting, praying. It was… difficult. I struggled between trying to come up with a word and simply waiting on God, loving on Him, depending… This had been my usual struggle this season.

minutes before grabbing the mic... 'uhm... what to say Lord what to say...?'

Time flew fast, soon I found myself being called to the stage, although I was not yet ready to speak. All I had was a sincere desire to see a prayer movement radically transform the face of the Church. And God made me jealous for Zamboanga and Mindanao.

It was so humbling to stand before a congregation like this one. The church I spoke to was one that is on fire for prayer, evangelism and discipleship. I found out later that they do live a lifestyle of fasting and that they even have this student who went to CDO just to study who ended up starting a church! His declaration? “I am here only to study part time but to do God’s work full time.” No, he wasn’t a full time worker, he was really there to study. But his mindset, is something, I believe the rest of us should have: The Kingdom of God is forcefully advancing and violent men lay hold of it.

And so I just shared my heart, for prayer, 24/7 worship-intercession, and revival. It felt a bit messy. But I’ve had it messier than before. But somehow, they were blessed. Thank God He moves even when the vessel is not so ready. Then we had some bonding time with new-found friends. I love how God takes you through a ride of glorious encounters even if you haven’t really figured out where to put your feet. Psalm 37 says, Commit your way to the Lord and He will direct your path. When life feels a bit foggy, I remind myself of this verse and I press on to God saying, I commit myself to you! Then I trust Him. Regardless of how I feel, I just choose to trust that things will get better.

Then He proves AS ALWAYS, that he IS FAITHFUL.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

Kay Sarap *zambo day 5

Thank you po Pastor sa libreng Knickerbucker!

Ola! I’m back in Paseo del Mar to tasted the famous KB!

Save one for me please!!!

Isaw con Tempura Platter – P50

Kay sarap ng libre, lalo na at hindi inaasahan.

(Biruin niyo, tatlo kami nagpunta sa Paseo del Mar para mag hapunan at mag-desert ng knickerbucker. Buti nga pinadalhan kami ni tita ng pansit so magpicnic nalang para bawas gastos. Pagdating namin doon, nandun yung pastor ni Meech! Nilibre kami ng knickerbucker! Nahiya pa nga kami ng onte kaso wala na kaming pera kaya hindi na kami nagpakipot!!!)

Kay sarap ng pansit na luto ni nanay. (Lalo na at libre nga kasi!)

Kay sarap ng knickerbucker kasi masarap talaga siya kahit anong gawin ninyo!!!

Kay sarap ng isaw at tempura, pagkaing kanto, magaan sa bulsa. P50 lang, puno na ang styropore. I call it Isaw Con Tempura Platter. 😉

Kay sarap ng Kuratsa (Crab Platter at P400 only) kahit hindi ko natikman. Hindi naman kasi ako mahilig sa crab. Too sossy for my taste. Bwehek!

at Kay sarap mamasayal pag kasama si Ja-en, Smyl, at Meech! “Huy pwede kayo gumalaw, video toh!” *Apir*

The Danger of Indifference: Reflections on our daily rituals (day 6)

at Magellan's Cross, Apr 2010

Seven months ago, I walked the city where Catholicism first docked, where venerating an image of Jesus was first introduced, and where a deep and widespread culture of religious practices and traditions had started some 490 years ago. Cebu City, the heart of the nation I fiercely love. They say that it is with the heart that we worship God. Thus, Cebu has become associated with worship. And what a man worships, he ultimately becomes. This statement is both amazing and terrifying to ponder on.

Today, I walk a city where landmarks are not limited to tourist hotels, spots with relaxing views of the sea, crab platter, satti and knickerbucker (local fruit salad) food joints — but public establishments where bombs have exploded, fire had erupted, or where innocent people have been massacred. It is not the violence that scares me though, but the acceptance and indifference that have grown towards the things that normally should grieve the heart.

a Sunday in Zamboanga city – day 3

If you’ve been following my posts on Zamboanga and my tweets @ twitter.com/riza_prays, you must have noticed by now that an afternoon nap (or evening nap for that matter) has become a part of our schedule. That is, because we’d often sleep kinda late just to be able to bring to you these blog updates 😉 ;-P Haha. Peace!

Yesterday, Sunday, we attended the 930am service at Word for the World (Meech’s church), ransacked the grocery, had lunch then napped again. Zzzzz… Then at 430pm, we rushed to Smile’s church where Ptr. Ferdy was a guest speaker.

Sea Gentiles (church) stage backdrop... how about you, are you ready for the harvest too?

It is a rare thing to find a church makes you feel more or less at home. I remember scouting for a church to go to in Baguio City during my 3-months in YWAM, it was hard to find one that’s close to your heart. I’m not talking about finding a ‘good’ church. I’ve attended services with anointed worship times + anointed preaching and yet something seems to say, I don’t really belong here. lol. I guess I’m too emo when looking for a church. Well, I’m not looking for a new church to go to. Eeep. It’s just that I was able to compare this experience with my many experiences when I was looking for a church to go to during my 3 months away from Manila.

Day 2 – Paseo del Mar

Oh yeah the next day, I was able to get some sleep already. Coming out from a mild fever and sore throat the past days, my body was still trying to regain strength. Meech, my host, had to attend to school requirements that day (Saturday) until 130pm. We saw each other during breakfast and after she left, I stayed up a bit then went back to bond with Meech’s bed. By the time Meech got back home, I was just about to wake up. Haha… Thank God for extended naps.

We lazily got ready to check out the city. First stop for the day (around 330pm this time) was Plaza del Mar, likened to Roxas Boulevard but of course does not come close. But its lovely view of the sunset, sea, harbor, Badjao boats, and walkway lined with restaurants, makes it a tourist as well as local resident destination. (The lovers remind me of Luneta.)

Pig-out Reunion 1

First day in Zamboanga, I was met by 2 lechon de leche at a first birthday party. There was also popcorn, cotton candy and face paint booth. Diego the explorer, Barney and Sponge Bob also came. After the party, we decided to sleep it off at home. Decided, but actually ended up stalking people at twitter. Sick!

(Before we went to the kiddie party at Astoria Hotel, we stopped by the Boulevard for a 2-minute photo shoot. We also saw P.Ferdy and Jaen at a Christian event in another function room in Astoria, happening simultaneous to the kiddie party.)

Popcorn weee!

Sponge Bob

Lechon!

2-minute stop over at the Boulevard overlooking Basilan

my girls from Zamboanga! 🙂