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A popular Southern French dish, Ratatouille (pronounced "ra-tuh-too-ee") features a variety of vegetables, saut?ed in olive oil. It is best to see how it is done first before one can gain the expertise in perfecting the dish. I gained first-hand experience with this recipe when I studied at Le Cordon Bleu, London for my Master Chef course. They taught us several variations of this recipe: as a soup, as a main course, and as an hors d'oeuvre. I serve it hot as a main course and serve it cold as an appetizer. For starters, try my simple version of this unique dish.

The Vatican has moved two bishops to head two important dioceses in the country. Erstwhile Kidapawan Bishop Romulo Valles is the new archbishop of the Diocese of Zamboanga, replacing Archbishop Carmelo Morelos who reached the canonical retirement age of 75 in December last year.

Out of touch for 30 years, Danilo Magpantay, a Filipino seaman in Brazil and his family in the Philippines will finally be reunited soon. Magpantay, now married with children and a permanent resident in Brazil, will spend the holidays with his mother and siblings in the country with the embassy in the South American nation facilitating the reunion.

Despite the mounting threat from several host countries to cease from hiring Filipino maids, the Philippines is set to double the minimum pay for domestic helpers abroad. Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said starting Dec. 15, all departing domestic helpers will be getting a monthly pay of $400 while those who are already working abroad will start to enjoy higher salaries next year.

Even in the company of hard-core terrorists, disgraced presidential crony Charlie Atong Ang is doing fine in his new detention cell at the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center in Bicutan, Taguig. According to South sector jail warden Superintendent Edgar Bolcio, Ang had expressed no qualms at all despite receiving only a few visitors since the time of his transfer.

Drawn by the Grand Finale mania, at least 10 members of the House of Representatives left for Las Vegas 10 days ago to watch the epic battle between the Filipino boxing idol and his Mexican nemesis. This was according to Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who, however, couldn’t remember the names of all who left, except for House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles and Deputy Speaker Eric Singson.

President Arroyo said she will stay on as defense secretary for at least two months and that she is in no hurry to find a replacement for outgoing Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. Cruz filed his irrevocable resignation last Nov. 5, effective on Nov. 30. He claimed that he wanted to return to private practice.

The Asian Development Bank said in its latest report on foreign assistance that the Philippines and Indonesia are wasting ODA funds because of corruption and careless spending.

The Philippines is the only Asian country that made it to the top 10 gender-sensitive states in the list of the World Economic Forum released recently. The group ranked the Philippines as sixth most-gender-sensitive after Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Germany. "The Philippines is distinctive as the only Asian country in the top 10," the group said in a statement.

Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, chief of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, Nov. 14 briefed Ambassadors Kristie Kenney (United States), Tony Hely (Australia), Peter Sutherland (Canada), Peter Beckingham (United Kingdom), David Pine (New Zealand), and Ryuichiro Yamazaki (Japan) on the security situation in the South during the envoys’ visit to Zamboanga City and Basilan.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney marked Thanksgiving Day Nov. 23 lending a hand to protect the city’s watersheds and showing care to local orphans.
"Thank you for making us part of the Zamboanga family," Kenney said after signing the co-management agreement with City Mayor Celso Lobregat, and other officials. Accompanying Kenney at the signing ceremony at City Hall was Maj. Gen. David Fridovich, chief of Special Operations at the US Pacific Command.

MANILA – After many months as a fugitive, former Sen. Gr ewgorio “Gringo” Honasan was captured when police and military operatives found him in hiding at the Green Meadows Subdivision in Quezon city Nov. 15.
He is now detained in a military camp in Laguna and faces charges of rebellion and probable coup d’etat for his alleged involvement in the failed Oakwood military uprising in July 2003, and the alleged failed February coup.

HANOI – US President George W. Bush met with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and six other Asian leaders after the Asian Pacific Economic Summit here Nov. 18. But the focus of their meeting was Cristeta Comerford, the White House executive chef.
The US President discussed with the Asian leaders the issue of terrorism, bird flu and other issues affecting Asian countries.

WASHINGTON D.C.-Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa has urged the Filipino-American community in the United States on Thursday to "unite once and for all" to help Filipino World War II veterans
Gaa made the appeal after calling on Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii Nov. 16 who promised to try to make Washington live up to its promise to give Filipino veterans full equity benefits, an embassy statement said.