Weekend in Bacolod

I count myself fortunate for having had enough time to spend a weekend with my mom's side of the family in Bacolod. Honestly, they're more than extended family to me - they're practically family since Mommy's eldest sister Mama was the one who raised me for the first three years of my life.  She also cared for my brother for about a year, until Mommy took us both to Davao.   Mama's own children, my cousins, would always introduce me to their friends as their youngest sister and have always treated me as such.  No wonder I grew up a little pampered and self-entitled because of their never-ending love and affection.  No wonder I always feel like a child again whenever I visit Bacolod and stay at their Victorina Heights home.

Compared to the month-long vacations I'd had in my childhood, this one was very short - only two days - and I had to rush from the office last Friday to catch the last flight from Manila to Bacolod.  Just this morning, I also took a cab from the airport straight to the office, where I have tons of work waiting for me.  This is not to say, however, that I regret those hours spent in commuting.  On the contrary, I consider them mere inconveniences that are part of the little sacrifices we have to make to spend time with the people who mean most to us.  

I had a great time bonding with my cousins and my aunts, who played a very important role in raising me and taking care of me when I was a baby.  In more ways than one, I'm still their baby even if I'm about to enter my fourth decade later this year.  There's the endless hugs and kisses that they would always shower on me whenever I'm there, the laughter, the endless talks, fussing over my stressful job and suggesting I quit it (hehe), attending church together, and eating delicious food - all these I enjoy and cherish whenever I'm with these people.  Of course, these people - Mama especially - never hesitate to give me sound advice on everything (from my presently nonexistent love life to my spiritual life).  All these I take to heart and heed because these people only want the best for me.  

I wish I were a child again, so I could spend several weeks in the company of the people who made a very big impact in my life.  I wish I had no commitments at work and at school so I could stay longer with them and really bond with them.  Perhaps, from now on, I'll make it a point to sacrifice a few precious work hours to be with my loved ones.  Family, after all, comes first.  

Molecule of the Day: Phenylalanine Hydroxylase

Other Names: PheOH, PAH, PheH
Classification: enzyme
EC: 1.14.16.1
Mass: 51.9 kDa
Form: monomer
Function: hydroxylation (addition of an OH group) of phenylalanine to tyrosine
Substrate: phenyalanine (an amino acid)
Product: tyrosine (another amino acid)
Diseases associated with: phenylketonuria (from lack of PAH)

Down the Food Memory Lane

I love to eat.  I guess it goes without saying that everybody's got to eat to continue his or her existence.  I have eaten different kinds of food and I have quite a long list of my favorites.  Most of these favorites have special memories attached to them, which is why I entitled this entry  Down the Food Memory Lane. 

1.  Chicken curry, dorm -style.  This evokes fond memories of my last semester in U.P.  I love the spicy-creamy taste of the dish, and I would often request the housemaids in my boardinghouse to prepare chicken curry for me.  I used to crave for a bowl even late at night.  Eventually, I was able to learn to prepare the dish myself, to the relief of Ate Inday and Ate Des and to my great delight.  At least, I would be able to make chicken curry anytime without ordering someone about.

2.  Canned tuna.   When my friend Ruby and I were roommates, we had had several cans of Century tuna in our cabinet as this was the only viand we knew to prepare back then.  We would saute the tuna in lots of garlic and onions for a decent meal.  This was our saving grace, since we were, and still are, never kitchen wizards. 

3.  Doughnuts.  It was my friend Kevin who greatly influenced me on all things donut.  I guess I would be eternally grateful to him for teaching me the ropes when it comes to choosing the best donuts in town.  During the early part of our thesis-proposal-hunting days, Ruby and I became so addicted to donuts that we would go to the nearest 7-11 at uncivilized hours or  spend our last money on a piece or two and never regret it. 

4.  Isaw and fishballs.  These were my favorite food in the academic jungle called U.P. Diliman.  There was a time when my college buddies and I went to the isawan near Bahay Kalinaw and ate all the isaw that we could possibly eat.    We have never had isaw stands in UP Manila; we had our snacks and meals in Robinsons Place, so the whole isaw experience was great for us. 

5.  Coke and chocolates.  These were always on my table during hell week in school.  A can of Coke and a bar or two of chocolate would be enough to supply all the energy I needed to be up all night. 

6.  Chocolate chip cookies.  A large box of Chips Ahoy and a good book were my companions during rainy days when classes were suspended.

7.  Fried Chicken.  This reminds me of my freshman days when, after our 7am P.E. class,  my best friend Vannie and I would go to an eatery called EasyWay for their fried chicken and pearl shakes.  During the latter part of my university days, my friends and I often had lunch at KFC, where the fried chicken is really yummy and affordable. 

Food and memories.  Food and friends.  These add considerable spice to life and make it worth living.

Molecule of the Day: Hemoglobin

Type: protein (tetramer)
Components: mostly alpha helices connected by hydrogen bonds
Co-factor: heme (a heterocyclic ring with an iron ion at the center)
Function: oxygen transport
Diseases associated with: iron-deficiency anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia

An Angel to Watch Over Me

"She watched by my cradle through long sleepless nights,
She taught me to pray as she knelt by my side,
She guarded my childhood, and all through the years,
She echoed my laughter, she counted my tears.
In the arms of my mother, I came to believe
That God sent an angel to watch over me.

She taught me the meaning of courage and faith.
She taught me to live with the Lord as my strength,
She taught me to follow the pathway He marked,
She guided my steps when the journey grew dark,
And I know there were dangers that I could not see,
But God sent an angel to watch over me.

She taught to serve with a spirit that sings,
She taught me to seek after heavenly things,
And because of her love and her kindness and faith,
Because of the place that I hold in her prayers,
And because of her goodness, I still believe
That God sent an angel to watch over me."
 - Sally DeFord

Molecule of the Day: Azulene

http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/G/B/1/Azulene.jpg

Systematic Name: bicyclo[5.3.0]decapentaene

Molecular Formula: C₁₀H₈  (an isomer of naphthalene)

Color: Dark Blue (from the Spanish word azul)

The azulene skeleton is found in nature as component of pigments in mushrooms and some marine invertebrates (as per Wikipedia). 

Molecule of the Day: Glucose

from: http://www.bmrb.wisc.edu/metabolomics/standards/D_glucose/lit/3565.png