There's More to Pipino

    It can be used to erase pen writing and also works great on crayons and markers that kids use in scribbling on walls. 

    It also helps in eliminating bad breath. 

    It can also remove cellulite fast and easily before going out or dipping in a pool. 

    It can also help in getting rid of pests in your garden. 

    It’s also an instant remedy for hangovers and headaches. 

    It also provides a quick and durable shoeshine that not only looks great but also repels water. 

      These are only a few of the amazing powers that a cucumber can do but, at 39 Malingap Street, Teachers Village Quezon City, it’s a vegetarian restaurant where “healthy food meets delicious”. 

         Pipino, the Filipino translation of the word cucumber, is a restaurant owned by Alessa Libongco-Lanot, a designer, an art teacher and also a vegetarian ever since she was in high school. The restaurant opened in October 2010 on the second floor of Pino. Pino on the other hand, is a Filipino-fusion restaurant, owned by PJ Lanot who happened to be Alessa’s husband. 

        It was PJ’s idea that Alessa open up her own restaurant for she’s not only artistically gifted but also exudes culinary prowess. 

      Pipino transforms popular Filipino fares into creative dishes by combining organic textures, flavors and ingredients. They serve generous servings of plant-based meals that bridge healthy and delicious. 

      Their starters include their bestselling taro chips, vegetable tempura, mushroom salpicao and sweet potato fries with dill aioli. 

     Among their entrees of Filipino flared vegetarian dishes are Portobello Inasal with Red Beef Puree, Ensaladang Talong with Brown Rice; Vegetable Kare-Kare with Vegan Bagoong Brown Rice; Fried Eggplant, Adobong Kangkong & Brown Rice served with Nilasing na Mangga and Fresh Vegetable Lumpia made with Whole Wheat Egg-less, topped with Toasted Seaweed, Peanut Sauce & Fresh Garlic served with crispy rice noodles. 

     They also serve Lemongrass Tofu Skewers with Guava-Chili Sauce and Alfalfa; Couscous with Vegetable Curry and Tofu Chips; Cold Soba Buckwheat Noodles with Mango Salsa, Crispy Tofu and Soy-Morin and Banana Polenta with Asparagus Salad and Sun-dried Tomato Confit. 

stuffed demi-dried tomatoes with brown rice, mushroom salpicao and orange leek salad 

     I tried their stuffed demi-dried tomatoes with brown rice, mushroom salpicao and orange leek salad. The smoky kick of the mushroom salpicao gives the ultimate flavor to the dish. Its smokiness intrigued me for salpicaos were usually sautéed and not grilled. Probably the mushrooms were overly sautéed. The taste of the stuffed demi-dried tomatoes with brown rice was a surprise. I never expected that it will have a subtle sweet taste which balanced the saltiness and smokiness of the mushroom salpicao. The playful sweet touch of the tomatoes added subtlety to the concoction. 

low fat and cheese-less vegan lasagne  

      I also tried their low fat and cheese-less vegan lasagne made of wheat pasta and layers of silken tofu, tomato sauce, eggplant, zucchini and malunggay. Since it’s cheese-less, it was the taste of the tomatoes which gave identity to the meal. Interestingly, the lasagne isn’t layered like the usual ones ordered in Italian restaurants. It’s really amazing how it also tastes like the real thing. 

     Comparing the cheese-less vegan lasagne and the stuffed demi-dried tomatoes, the taste of the latter appealed to me more. 

    Their desserts consist of homemade ice-creams, vegan cookies and cupcakes. I took delight on their lemongrass ginger cucumber cupcake but it turned out to be the opposite. I was disappointed with how the mixture of the lemongrass, ginger and cucumber played in my mouth. For some reasons, it tasted like Japanese. Not being a fan of Japanese dishes, I only had two bites. Good thing I was with a friend who was kind enough to finish the cupcake even if she wasn’t also thrilled with how it tasted. 

lemongrass ginger cucumber cupcake 

     Maybe it was just a mistake of choice. Possibilities are always endless and the other cupcake flavours seemed to be and hopefully more delicious. 

    The good folks at at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) awarded Pipino with the number-one vegan dessert in Manila for their chocolate chip cookie. 

       I have yet to try their award-winning chocolate chip on my next visit. 

       Pipino isn’t that bad, there’s always that thing called experience. RLM

10 Deaths, Scarred Mouths, Life Dogs

     Ten deaths for a 12 year old aren’t usual. 

    Four goldfishes + three hamsters + two dogs + a chick =10 deaths and sadly, without even decent burials. 

    They didn’t die all at the same time of course but, a child can only take so much that cannot go beyond his or her ten fingers. 

    I just woke up one morning and our aquarium was already empty, the goldfishes jumped out of the water. My three hamsters found themselves inside the tummy of stray cats. I didn’t really know how my dogs died. After a summer vacation when we went back home, I was informed that my parents had given away my dog and it died with its new owner. My second dog also died while we were away on vacation. And my poor my baby chick which I remember naming Temper, died because I wasn’t able to take good care of it. 

   After the death of my last pet, I developed a zoophobia. I can’t hold animals anymore, I don’t want to be near them and just their mere presence triggers fear in me. I developed a paranoia that all animals will hurt me, that they will bite my skin and devour me. 

    I took the death of my last pet as a toll, maybe taking care of pets wasn’t my cup of tea, I thought. Also, my countless encounters with dogs which were about to devour me, built not only fear but also a loathing for dogs. 

    But change happens when you least expect it. 

   My zoophobia continued until a trip to Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), an animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Capas, Tarlac. 

     AKF is a 2.5 refuge for dogs which were once slaughter-bound , neglected, abandoned and were about to be transacted for dog meat trade. It is the largest non-profit animal shelter in the country which promotes a no-kill policy. 

     It wasn’t one of those trips which triggers goose bumps or an inability to sleep the night before due to excessive enthusiasm for a getaway. 

       It wasn’t thrilling at first but, little by little, it became life changing. 

     One thing I have come to learn in going to places I have never been before was to never expect. Not expecting will lessen the probabilities for regrets. Also by doing such, one allows the place to reveal itself freely without the boxing of inhibitions. 

       Upon arriving at AKF, it was the dogs’ barking which incited an instant fear that made me want to stay at the van. But as how Franklin Delano Roosevelt coined it, the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Still with jitters crawling in me, I hopped out of the van. 

Manny, the boxer :)

      Manny, a pure bred boxer greeted our group. He didn’t howl as if he will feast on my flesh. He just smelled us like we were freshly washed bed covers. Although I was still clasping on to my fear, slowly I felt that Manny was assuring me that he won’t harm me and that he just wanted to welcome new pals. He led us to the shelter’s main building where the clinic and the office are housed. 

        Dr. Roland Arciga, a resident veterinarian at the shelter, mentioned that 98% of the funds they use for the protection and the promotion of the rescued dogs come from Charles Wartenberg, founder of International Wildlife Coalition Trust (IWCT). IWCT is a foundation based in the United Kingdom which is dedicated to building animal rescue shelters. 

        Dr. Arciga mentioned that since the Philippine government doesn’t support the maintenance of the AKF, the best thing it can do is to disseminate information about the center. According to him information dissemination is very crucial in promoting animal awareness and convincing tourists both local and international to adopt dogs after their visit at the rescue center. 

      An irony is then manifested in the funding of a foreign country in solving our country’s own problem in trading dog meat. Excruciating it may seem but it’s really happening. According to a statement released by Charles Wartenberg, “...around 2,000 dogs per week are being killed to fill the dinner plates of those that still persist in eating man’s best friend.” 

       The trading of dog meat sprang from the delivery of goat meat from Batangas to Pangasinan. Since there is an insufficient supply of goat meat, meat traders resorted to dog meat to make the goat meat appear plentiful. Tormentingly, as time passed, the demand for dog meat grew rapidly. 

      As we went along the holding pens, we were welcomed by a chorus of more than 700 howling dogs. It was terrifying yet comforting at the same time. Terrifying because I was still holding on to my zoophobia and comforting for I know that they are caged and won’t have the capabilities of hurting me unless they will be freed. 

         I freed my eyes in the lost gazes of dogs pleading for freedom. I realized that more than fearing them, it should be concern for them that I should be first worried about. No animal would want to be caged, just like human beings; they are gifted with life and liberty. But these dogs are very inferior to some greedy humans who deprive them of their right to live freely without having to fear that their heads might be someone else’s meal the next day. 

       Each dog held in that pen has a distinct story. The scars on some of the dogs’ mouths struck me. Dr. Arciga explained that those scars were due to the cans forcefully shoved on their mouths so they won’t make noises as they were being illegally trafficked. 

Kylo, the amputated dog

Kylo, my life dog

       Of all the dogs in the shelter, I considered Kylo as my life dog. Kylo is just like any other dog until you see that he has only three feet. His right hind leg had to be amputated due to an infection that spread in his femur. He is one of the two dogs which survived among the three live dogs recovered with other 35 butchered dogs in a vehicle bound north of Luzon. 

        10 deaths for a 12 year old is just a handful compared to 10,000 deaths that will still be counting if left disregarded. We’ve heard and experienced countless stories of the loyalties of dogs, maybe it’s about time we become loyal to them in return. RLM

On the loose at Puerto Galera

My photojournalism class had a fieldtrip at Puerto Galera last March 3-4. I was able to attend the annual Music and Arts Festival held at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo. Filipino and foreign artists collaborated in fusing art and music for the restoration of Mt. Malasimbo and to help the Mangyan tribe in Mindoro.  Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival! #it'sreallymorefuninthePhilippines 

Went Nuts at Van Gogh is Bipolar

      Finally I got to try the phantasmagoric restaurant owned by self-confessed bipolar Jetro Rafael. RLM

an artist's marriage proposal posted at Van Gogh's restroom

pieces posted at the UV lighted restroom

leak leak leaking

you get to make your own tea, not the fad by the way :)

Courtney Love's potion

forgot what this soup is called

the adorable teapots :)

subtle subtle lights

the artsy fartsy clock

the apron :)

President Clinton's meal, grilled Aussie lamb chop 

President Roosevelt's meal, grilled Norwegian salmon belly 

with my friend Pat

the dark room

for our dessert, we had Mel Gibson's mortal sin