The rainclouds were beginning to roll in on the morning of the Sabbath, June 21, but after prayerful beseeching for safe shield especially for the young children and the physically disabled, we had sunshine! In the aftermath, we heard the usual phrases when a storm's behavior has defied forecasting methods: "lumihis ang direksyon ni Frank nung Sabado," "yung inaasahan na trajectory eh hindi nangyari..." and this, from a PAGASA on June 26: "nung Sabado talagang dapat papasok na yung bagyong Frank sa Metro Manila. Nakaderetso na siya. Kaso biglang tumigil. Lumiko sa tabi ng Romblon..." 

Little did we know, that in the wake of mourning for all the lives of our countrymen swept by the storm, from Mindanao, the Visayas islands, all the way to Luzon, the song Mia Perona selected for her Sabbath offering music would resound the only eternal living hope from the Giver of Life, which even those who died will wake up to one day...

As far as corn goes, we’ve always been partial to the sticky white variety than to the commercial Japanese sweet but bland-after-a-day type.

With the rice price-crisis soaring into gourmet levels, we are now encouraged to eat more “alternatives to rice.” But we continue to be grateful to the Almighty God for causing the land to still yield increase, so that we can still have access to the healthier varieties of brown unpolished rice and the presidentially-endorsed kamote (sweet potato) and mais (corn).

Every year, on our way up to the Feast, we stop by roadsides in Pangasinan, or troop to the back lanes of the Baguio market at sunrise to dig into the sacks of steaming corn. So happens that “there are thousands of farmers cultivating white corn, particularly in parts of the Visayas, since this is their preferred staple food...”-- Manila Times, 3.15. 2008. Not so with Luzon, with nearly everyone asking for “extra rice” to extend a P25 lunch.

Recently, my mother spotted a vendor with a sidecar full of white corn, “bagong pitas po iyan, matamis...” (just harvested, really sweet) and while she steamed half the bunch, she also recalled several recipes like binatog (steamed kernels with freshly grated coconut), ginataang mais (corn with sweet creamy coconut milk), and this White Corn Soup recipe we’re sharing with you...

White Corn Soup (Ginisang Mais)

kernels of about 9 pieces white corn
2 tbsps vegetable oil
1 small head garlic, peeled/crushed
1 red onion, sliced
2-3 cups water
salt and just-crushed black pepper
leaves of the chili plant (dahon ng sili)

Make sure the white corn is freshly picked, shave off a thin layer of kernels, then the rest of the starchy corn content.

Saute the garlic and onions in oil. Add the corn kernel meal. Stir-fry for 1 minute. Add water. Salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Add chili leaves. Turn off heat immediately. Serve hot, preferably with steaming rice (hahaha :) and crispy fried dried fish (daing) like sapsap or danggit with a spicy nipa vinegar dip!