Jill and the Books Talk

Won't last a day without experiencing the warm, aromatic, delicate and soothing (feeling mayaman) effect of tea? Then you must be a TEA-ta! Here are the telltale signs of being a TEA-ta: 1. Tea is your elixir for life You begin and end your day with tea. You take tea like your square meals (see tea time chart). Tea is medicine! A TEA-ta has a specific tea to prescribe for every symptom on earth. Sleepy? Perk up your senses with black tea. Indigestion? Have a cup of fresh peppermint tea. Sleepless? Chamomile will take you to snooze heaven. Early signs of aging? White tea is health-TEA for your skin. Cholesterol problems? Green tea is scientifically proven to unclog your arteries. As you get older, Pu-erh now becomes a staple in your tea box. Kinakabag ka ba TEA-ta? Hetong tsaa! 2. You are maTEApid The stash of tea you keep in your handbag is as valuable as your wallet containing your membership cards (Me rcury Drug, S&R, SM, Rustan's, Healthy Options, Landers , etc.), credit...

Early in 2019, I prayed to God to take me to to see the Canadian Rockies. I told myself, I will save up for this trip and in a few years time, I will be able to visit.  In April 2019, I got a call from my Uncle Albert in the US. He mentioned that since my parents and I are going to visit them in October, he plans to take us to Canada as a side trip. "I want to show you the Canadian Rockies!" Those words were like music to my ears. Since my parents already had their tickets booked, I immediately booked mine online. I am bound for Banff sooner than I expected. I was giddy with delight as I walked through the snowy pathway leading to the lake. I could see snow capped mountain peaks which grew bigger and taller as I got closer. I made a turn.  And there I was. Frozen.  Awestruck. Speechless. None prepared me for the majestic scenery of Lake Louise. Calm crystal clear, turquoise water. Perfectly reflecting the Canadian Rockies behind it.  Tears began to well up in my eyes...

From an outsider's perspective, my professional life revolves around the highly coveted (by quack nutritionists and dietitian wannabes) practice of being a nutrition, health and wellness expert.  Made even more exciting by the myriad of interesting people I get to meet in my office, my client's corporate offices, as well as, the lectures and media launches and appearances I engage in. A career that is not only financially rewarding but delicate and dynamically impacting the lives of people in many ways.  Little do people know about my life as an online English teacher which commenced in 2013 and concluded in 2018. A humbling experience that has taught me so much about the Japanese culture and how it is to truly work for something that does not entail much monetary compensation. Half an hour or two, sometimes more hours, several days in a month was all it took to give me that sense of pride in witnessing my students, who could barely speak a word of English during our first les...

Author: Caroline Roberts The setting was perfect. As you read through this chicklit's pages, you will be transported to a charming castle that is falling apart. The entire novel will surely evoke cravings for the sweet tooth. It was an entertaining read up until the author seemingly decided to try her luck in writing a steamy novel which turned out to be a total disaster. The descriptive sex scenes were unnecessary in the story plot, not to mention how badly they were written. I had to browse through the pages quickly. Finally, as if the author wanted to reward her readers for enduring those cringe-worthy pages, you will find something at the end of this book that will be useful in your kitchen. 

Author: Adrian Goldsworthy I have to be honest. I bought this book because I was expecting to read factual insights on the scandalous love affair between the Roman general Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. That didn't happen. The book turned out to be a fascinating historical account of the Roman empire, it's triumphs and weaknesses based on ancient sources and archeological evidences. A story beautifully written by Goldsworthy debunking myths about Antony's indisputable military skills and Cleopatra's lineage and temptress image. If you set your expectations right in the beginning, you are in for a lengthy fill of history, astounding facts and a completely different perspective of the Roman empire, Antony, and Cleopatra interwoven with the Egyptian and Greek cultures.

It was March 15, 2020, the first day of Enhanced Community Quarantine that I felt like I was being strangled. It finally dawned on me that I cannot just take the next flight to see my family whenever I miss them.  I fared no better in the coming days as I felt like I was being pulled between two opposing powerful forces. I was succumbing to a depressed state while also being very much aware that I had to pull myself together. I had to stay strong for my family (especially my mom who broke down over the phone), my staff (who were with me), our family businesses (we had to close non-essential businesses and had to maximize digital marketing efforts for essential business), my anxious patients (who somehow made me forget my troubles because I had to do counseling as early as 7am and as late as midnight), and the donors who needed my assistance in coordinating aid. Not to mention the responsibilities I had with corporate clients and writing articles for Manila Bulletin. I was read...

I was devastated when my Amah passed away while I was in the US in 2017. She couldn’t wait for me. I was just gone for I think 9 days. I had no courage to visit her grave for two years as the thought of it would render me paralyzed from pain and bawling like a baby.  A few nights ago, while I was putting my nephew Noah to sleep, he requested to see some photos: “Akoh there will be four chapters tonight. Mom and dad’s wedding, the reception, when I was born and when Tai Ma died.”  I repli ed: "Photos of Tai Ma’s death will make me cry Noah.”  To my astonishment, he lovingly said: “It’s ok Akoh, there is life everlasting in heaven because Jesus died for our sins to save us.”  I hugged him so tight. It took an innocent 6-year old to remind me that someday I will be reunited with my beloved Amah. Finally, I found the courage to visit and I was at peace.  As I was doing my quiet time tonight, I came across this passage:  He will wipe eve...

My eulogy to my grandmother, read by my younger brother in my absence. How do you bid someone, who has been a huge part of your existence, goodbye? In April this year, after Ammah was discharged from the hospital, she was never the same. She didn’t sound like herself over the phone, when a few days before, she was laughing with me during one of our conversations. It was then that I came face to face with reality that my Ammah’s overall health was fast deteriorating. She was depressed because she could no longer walk. She felt useless. I took the next flight home. I was so scared to lose her because I wasn’t ready.  When I arrived, the first thing I asked her was to share with me her Baulu recipe. You see, no one can match my Ammah’s Baulu. Now you might wonder why of all things, I asked for her recipe. Back then, I acted on impulse but in retrospect, I now realized that the recipe represented much more than food. It represented Ammah’s love for me, for Angkong and our ...

I am 10 lbs heavier and happier. I am healthier in mind and body because  I have learned how to let go of relationships that don’t respect and reflect my values,  say no to activities that don’t align with my purpose, choose my battles wisely,  and be content to rely on God’s grace each day.  Grace to accept that God’s thoughts are higher  than my thoughts,  grace to forgive, grace to do what I have to do even if  I don’t want to  get out of my comfort zone.  Grace to eat better, slee p soundly and be physically active.  More importantly, I have learned to be happy with my appearance,  to be content with my lot in life, not seeking anyone’s approval  and couldn’t care less about popularity, what I wear, how I look or  even what accolades I have in order to impress anyone  because I have reached that point in my life  where I no longer have to seek  anyone’s approval to affirm that I am loved, wante...

Some time before I turned 40 this year, I asked God how He would summarize the past 4 decades of my life and this Bible verse was impressed on me: "My cup runneth over..." - Psalm 23:5 I broke down in tears for indeed that was how my life was and how I felt at that moment. I couldn't find the words to describe my experiences and my feelings until the Holy Spirit reminded me of these four words. I went on and grabbed my journal in the middle of the night and scribbled my heart away: Confident in God’s grace and care, with joy I reflect I have a Shepherd. My greatest abundance is this: By faith I taste the goodness of God in all my enjoyments.  Though I have but little of this world, it is a green pasture. The Lord gives me peace and contentment in the mind, wherever the lot is. My consolations are the still waters where the Holy Spirit leads me,  whose streams flow from the Fountain of living waters. I feast at the Lord’s table, upon t...