Have you ever wanted to bake a cake without an oven? Or you have dreamed of it yet never come into realization? Baking a cake does not always need an oven. All you have to do is to be creative, innovative and experimental.

Let us start first with ingredients. Many thought baking a cake is a complex and sensitive process. Never will it be if we are creative enough. We can create our own ingredients according to what we like. In this article, I will be talking about puto cake. What we need are cake flour, eggs, refined sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and evaporated milk. For flavor, we may use vanilla, cinnamon, or any liquid flavor we wish to have.

After having these ingredients measured and ready, separate the egg yolk from the egg white and start making your meringue. Beat the egg white first, then gradually add the sugar and the cream of tartar. You may use electric mixer, or you may have it manually, using an egg beater. But it will take time for you to form the meringue. See to it that your meringue is stiff enough, that it may not spill out from the mixing bowl if you turn the bowl down.

Before mixing the flour mixture, start boiling water in a steamer. See to it that the water will be enough until your cake is cooked.

In another mixing bowl, combine the flour, the sugar, baking powder and milk. Mix well. After mixing it well, cut and fold it with the meringue. Add the flavor you wish in your puto cake.

Next, line a wax paper on your round cake pan and pour the mixture into it. Drop it slowly on the table to eliminate some bubbles within the mixture. Then, put it in the steamer and steam until cooked or until such a clean stick or toothpick comes out clean after inserting it in the middle of your cake.

Although this is a cake, you don’t need to use oven. Sometimes, creativity comes when we really desire to do what we wish to do. Baking is just a simple experiment. Just have some patience, and apply innovations. Remember, we can always find ways even in the absence of what we really need.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the order of events among billions of people around the world since its first human cases were first reported by officials in Wuhan City, China, in December 2019. Faiths that were shattered by series of misfortunes in the past are now restored and are even becoming deeper as this contagion remains to scare everyone. As number of positive cases continually shoot, our anxieties also spike in bigger proportions, creating visions of doubts on a sweeping scale day by day.

            The presence of authorized vaccines in our country today does not wither the fact that we still grapple in putting an end to our increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Though the Department of Health (DOH) has started rolling out its vaccination programs among our health workers in several medical facilities across the country, an easy demise of the disease would still be a dream given the new COVID-19 variants of concern looming every corner of our streets again. Thus, the period of uncertainty which begins to dissipate just as COVID-19 vaccines touched down our land, is creeping in and lounging in our midst once more. Like a ghost, it refuses to die. We can only wish to see that glimmer of hope shining through our fear.

            As a form of defense, we are reminded every day to follow safety protocols such as keeping distance from each other while we are outside doing errands or in our workplaces conforming to our respective jobs, so we won’t contact ourselves with the disease. Like a broken record, we are repeatedly advised to wear facemasks and face shields anywhere we go, so we don’t give the virus the slightest chance to pin us down to our sickbed for weeks, months, or worse, to our grave.

            For a time, there was panic buying of bath and laundry soaps in supermarkets and convenience stores, as proper handwashing is strictly recommended by the DOH to help us prevent the spread of the disease. Grocery store owners took advantage of the demand for hygiene products so there was also hoarding of alcohol and other essentials in their establishments and later were sold to a hefty price. Houses were stocked with necessary household products. Rice dispensers were filled to the brim, refrigerators were lodged with essential drinks and other storages were kept with ready-to-eat foods. Indeed, the DOH, in several newspapers, radio and television stations and all social media platforms would tell us to keep ourselves clean and strong everyday as the virus is no match to a healthy body but would also emphasize that we stay home if going out is unnecessary because that is the best protection from the virus. Social distancing has become the new normal, the word of mouth from one corner to another, a warning in place when complacency hits the road day and night.

            However, distancing is not new to us. In fact, it has been there since the time we became aware of the world around us. There are many things or instances that we distance ourselves from, especially from people we meet or for some reasons from our friends whom we shared some of our personal little secrets with. This is because we want to treat ourselves with inner peace than suffer the agony of entertaining their negative impact to us.

            We distance ourselves from people who are vexations to our spirit, good at commodifying the sleeping evils in us than activating our saintly gestures for everyone to adore and follow. They are more dreaded than the virus. They would come in our loneliest days piercing the dagger deep and down the wound where pain is most unbearable.   

            We also keep ourselves away from people who only know we exist because of the amount of goodwill they get from us, sourced out from the usual generosity we show them and not because we truly matter. Love and care are a sham to these opportunists who wear their true intentions with a sheepskin’s clothing. They shed the crocodile tears to also feel our pain but they laugh in secret. They beckon us into their tight embrace but with gritted teeth, a clenched fist and a grin from ear to ear. Our every misfortune becomes their happiness, our tears their victory and our losses their gains because there is nothing more wonderful than seeing us wounded and slowly dying in misery.

            Time would always tell the truth as to who among our acquaintances always wants to own the world, the royal highness wannabes, the diva complex. We also avoid them because we always want to see humility in the playing field rather than suffocate ourselves with arrogance that permeates the air. If no man is an island, then nobody owns the world from among us.

            They are some of the few we want to give a glance and a smile from a far because keeping their company is too much of a good thing.

            There is still more to distancing than meets the eyes. At times, we would take a time out from our workloads before they take their toll on us, either at home or at work. We would also loosen up the baggage on our shoulders when it slows down our progress or when it is becoming more of a task than of a passion. We would temporarily take a different route to reflect whether we still derive satisfaction from within or we don’t.

            Many times, we would also want our brains closed to any negative thought so it would not derail a successful plan whether for personal growth or just for peace of mind. Any social media platform to this day cuddles toxicity of any form, be it about politics, fashion, showbusiness or even about personal grudges which the world does not deserve to know. We avoid them because we don’t want to see tough times walking with us. We don’t want a sudden brain shut off.

            Also, in some relationships when logical decisions are overlooked among couples, it’s necessary that they put a space between them for a while to assess what went wrong and why their being together is becoming unsatisfying. And decide from there either they give themselves another chance or cut the ties that bind them for their own good and tranquillity. Even between friends, when requirements in making friendships last, such as trust, commitment, patience and constant communication are not met, one would call it quits and move on before they are drained to their core.

            Food and lifestyles are also sometimes set aside when one’s health is put to a test. When they become barriers to our fitness goals because our health preferences are at risk, we easily say no to them because we want to make ourselves some big changes, we race against time because it is of the essence in making ourselves healthier and happier again.

            We also distance ourselves from the temptations of travels, shopping, or unnecessary purchases, because we leave fractions of our savings for more important things such as investments, our children’s education, building our family a comfortable dwelling and other basic needs or we prepare them for emergency purposes.

            When we want to escape and forget, for a moment, the harsh and malicious realities of the world, we listen to music, we watch movies, we read, we laugh, we daydream and we sleep. Time forgotten of the unforgiving world is a form of self-care and self-love because we can’t do so much but to prioritize our well-being and happiness. We all want to dwell on the basics when things are hard to bear. The best things on earth become immaterial when they are not rooted from the heart.

            However, other than all these complexities which we have been distancing ourselves from  for years, what we want completely is to bring back the happy and worry-free days again ; to walk the streets again without facemasks and face shields on,  to walk the streets again without fear of the pandemic, to walk the streets again freely with our friends and our loved ones , to go anywhere in the world, to bring back the world to its proper order… Let us distance ourselves from the virus so we can show the world our authentic smiles or our old normal again.

Confused. Worried. Afraid.

            Faced with a dilemma of getting vaccinated or not?

            The current world health crisis with the outbreak of Covid 19 has brought a lot of challenges along all aspects of life. Its implications to us are still unfolding. In order to cope with our existence and beat the war against it, different types of vaccines have been formulated. Consequently, it resulted to varied opinions and reactions on its efficacy. People also become anxious of its side effects to the human well-being.  Worry and fear are common among us.

            For all we know, vaccine as defined is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against a disease. Its main purpose is to at least protect us from the virus. But here comes the confusion. Building trust on being convinced to get vaccinated is having a firm decision from oneself. A dose of it might lead one to ask herself/ himself, “Will it really protect me from getting infected by the virus?”

            However, more than the vaccine against this dreadful virus, we need right doses of moral values in order for us to have defenses from the impurities of life. It’s right time for us to get vaccinated with the real vaccines of life and protect ourselves from the dangers brought by the temptations of the world.

            In trying moments when we get depressed because of the uncertainties of the present situation, we need that spark of inspiration from others. If the work atmosphere is already infected with that offensive “drag-me-down” crab mentality because of envy and greed, let’s be wrapped with a lot of contentment and acceptance. If pride and prejudice hover the place, be clothed with open-mindedness. If arrogance and superiority stain the surroundings because of evil power tripping, let’s wear face masks of humility, righteousness and steer direction. If insensitivity and indifference to others attack us, let’s have enough face and body shields of empathy and compassion to combat its heart-dredging effect. If miscommunications tear down relationships, have more doses of openness and initiative to rebuild broken paths. If loneliness and rejection put us down, have enough grams of rays of hope and love from the miracle of prayer. Let’s be inspired to practice social distancing from our old broken and bitter self…

            We need to instill in ourselves these most essential virtues of life so we can be at peace with ourselves, with others and with the world. This will surely boost our immunity to the different struggles and challenges of daily living.

            We don’t have only to make our physical body healthy but more of taking care of our mental, emotional and psychological well-being. Life is not only about being attractive on the outside aspect but most importantly, uplifting the emotional wellness. We need to strengthen both our inner and outer immunity with God-given values.

            We must be reminded that no one saves us but ourselves. Self-care and self love should have the highest priority above anything else.             As one writer puts it, “Increasing the strength of our minds is the only way to reduce the difficulty of life.”