Experience is the best teacher. Generally speaking this is true, especially if we talk about survival. That is why we are always advised to practice with our gears. Go into the woods and do some dirt time. And do it as often as you can.
Some of the stuff I know about survival like making fire for one, I learned out of necessity. As far as I can remember in 1957 there was no electricity in my hometown San Jose. There were no television sets then and the sole entertainment of people at night is going to a movie theater powered by an electric generator. Not everybody have transistor radio that run on batteries, in fact you would be considered rich if you have one.
Electric stoves are non existent too. There are some people who own kerosene stove but most cook their food using firewood. There was no garbage collection system in place either so people burn their garbage instead especially the leaves raked from the backyard. In the morning and at dusk you would see in the neighborhood heaps of leaves smoking under the fruit trees so it would blossom and bear fruit.
(Photo courtesy of Low-Tech Magazine)
I learned how to make fire at an early age by just watching people do so at first and then doing it by myself later. I learned how to stack the firewood the right way so it would easily catch fire using a match and only a piece of paper as tinder. I also learned how to blow or use ihip to make the fire bloom and how to arrange 3 stone cooking fire. I became adept at these skills by repetition since it is a part of my daily chore. Only around the 60's that the town was energized.
That's all folks! Thanks for reading.
What's for lunch on New Year's Day.
Happy New Year to All!
The Philippine archipelago sits astride the typhoon belt and therefore the country is hit by numerous typhoons and storms starting in the month of July through October and sometimes extends up to December. But despite this predicament the Filipinos being ebullient and easy going people, always make the best of the situation. Like the man below resting on a makeshift hammock and a shed made out of jute sacks and nonchalantly smoking his cigarette despite the fact that his ricefield is flooded.
A true-blooded PinoyBushwhacker!
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No, I'm not into fishing yet - though I'd love to. Maybe next year, I'll learn to fish the right way. Back in my country I use to fish using a bamboo stick or a long twig. No reel, no sinker, no bobber, etc., just stick, line, hook and bait. Understandably, I catch only small fishes like tilapia and gourami unlike this monstrous fish.
I'd say this fish weighs about 10 kilos. I skinned and filleted the fish and then broiled it in the oven.
And the head (we eat fish heads you know - yuck!) was made into a Filipino dish called sinigang. Sinigang is a soup or stew characterized by its sour flavor most often associated with tamarind. My brother said that when he first came to America in 1975, pink salmon fish heads are given away free. Now they cost $1.99 per pound courtesy of the Asians.
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I'm having an attack of homesickness. I really, really miss my country and longs to be home. I feel like a prisoner who wants to be with his love ones but can't. And so just relive his happy memories with them.
This Visayan song sung by simple provincial folks is somewhat like that. Its title's English translation is "Christmas in Prison".
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Starting a fire using dry bamboo demonstrated here by Aeta tribesmen in the Philippine jungle. Bamboo has many uses and is quite prevalent in Asia. It is oftentimes used as building material for houses, furnitures, utensils, baskets, cradles and is even used as handles for BNCW-01 Bushcraft knife. It is also a source of food. The bamboo shoot, new bamboo culms that come out of the ground, is harvested and cooked as vegetables.
A good alternative for the bow drill and hand drill method in places where bamboo is available.
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I have been in the US for quite a while. What supposed to be a short visit to my newly born grandson turned into a baby sitting stint for more than 2 years. Oh well, that's what grandparents are for isn't it. But I really miss my country, especially when I saw Gerry D. Ruiz's photos . The photos below are from his website.
A village along the seashore. The Philippines is an archipelago comprising of 7,107 islands.
Ricefield. As with other neighboring Asian countries, rice is Philippine's staple food. Being a tropical country with wet and dry season made it suitable for rice farming.
The nipa hut also known as bahay kubo, is an indigenous house used in rural areas. The native house is constructed out of bamboo tied together, with a thatched roof using nipa or anahaw leaves.
A small river. Often the source of water supply in remote areas where artesian wells or piped in water are not available.
As a youngster, I used to drink water from a stream like this - no need for filtering or boiling.
And of course, I miss fish balls. Fishball is an edible, ball-shaped patty made of pulverized fish, deep fried and sold by mendicant street vendors. The balls are served skewered, offered with a choice of three kinds of dipping sauces.
That's all folks! Thanks for reading.
