Taho!

Taho is made of processed soy beans (soft tofu) sweetened with arnibal (caramelized sugar with vanilla) and sprinkled with sago (tapioca pearls). It is a very popular street food in the Philippines and is usually taken in the mornings when ambulant vendors roam the streets lugging two aluminum containers, one holding the warm tofu and the other the arnibal and sago. It is popular as a merienda or dessert not only among kids but also adults who enjoy its taste. I have always enjoyed a generous serving of taho since I was a child and we had our suki vendor arriving on schedule on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I remember I usually have a tall glass or a mug to fill with taho. The price for the non-standard serving is usually negotiated but in our case, the vendor usually gives us a discount for being regular customers.

Fill the glass with warm smooth soft taho

Add arnibal and sago

Another look at the arnibal and sago

Mix a little with a spoon

And voila! Delicious taho on a warm summer morning

Can't get enough - always a generous serving of taho for me!

There are also taho vendors at the university and you can even find stalls in the mall. I heard some restaurants have also served taho (in some cases flavored or gourmet style). But it is the street variety which I usually prefer. For the uninitiated, just be a little meticulous or inquisitive about where you get your taho. There have been reports and even documentaries showing unsanitary conditions of taho preparation in some areas and so it is good practice to be a little choosy when buying taho. We still have our suki in Cainta and at the university so I am quite confident I won't get sick with my taho.

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Recovered photos: UPD MSCE Graduation 1995

Among the negatives recovered were the following photos that I had assumed I had lost to the floods in 2009. I was elated with the unexpected finds and immediately had the photos printed. I scanned them myself and have uploaded them in my computers as well as now posting them on my blog and Facebook account. I believe this effort should ensure I wouldn't lose these photos again.

With Tatay at the Film Center after the college rites

With good friend Ericson Aquino after the University rites

Souvenir photo op at the Film Center podium 

The next photos I will be scanning and perhaps posting would be those taken during various get-togethers in Japan between 1996 and 1999. These are especially important as I have much of the photos I took during that period, a time when I had two cameras and often lugged extra film (two rolls of 36's) in addition to the roll that was always loaded in each of my cameras.

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Graduation photos - UP MSCE Class of 1995

My good friend Karl was clearing up one of our shelves at the laboratory and stumbled upon a treasure trove of photos and negatives we had probably misplaced or assumed to have been lost by one reason or another. Among the negatives found were those of our graduation from the University back in April 1995 featuring the first 4 MSCE scholars supported by a Japanese Grant through NCTS: Crispin Emmanuel Diaz, Frederick Mangubat, Jose Regin Regidor and Noriel Christopher Tiglao. The photos were taken during the college and university rites and were most probably recorded through Noriel's camera. Among the photos are two that also feature two of our friends posing with us. These were Rene Val Teodoro and Love Panaguiton who marched with us but as BSCE and BSGE graduates, respectively. They were delayed by a semester or two but were able to join the college rites corresponding to their completion of requirements (e.g., Val finished October 1994).

Following are photos scanned from the prints developed from the negatives we recovered from our shelves.

Posing at the Film Center with the still unfinished UP Theater in the background [L-R: Cris Diaz, Fred Mangubat, Regin Regidor and Noriel Tiglao]

At the Film Center doorway [L-R: Regin Regidor, Fred Mangubat, Val Teodoro, Noriel Tiglao and Cris Diaz]

Photo op on-stage after the recognition rites [L-R: Cris Diaz, Regin Regidor, Fred Mangubat and Noriel Tiglao]

Just in front of our seats [L-R: Fred Mangubat, Regin Regidor, Noriel Tiglao and Cris Diaz]

At the University commencement exercises at the amphitheater behind Quezon Hall [L-R: Fred Mangubat,  another MSCE grad whose name I forget, Regin Regidor and Noriel Tiglao]

Posing after the university rites [L-R: Fred Mangubat, Regin Regidor, Love Panaguiton and Noriel Tiglao]

Posing with the Carillon [L-R: Noriel Tiglao, Cris Diaz, Fred Mangubat and Regin Regidor]

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