THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has made it “official.” Senior citizens, students and persons with disability are entitled to a 20 percent discount in taxi fare.
More and more cabs now have stickers proclaiming the discount.
I do not want to call it a Christmas gift. The discount was provided for in a law passed several years ago. Why it took LTFRB so long to require taxis to give the discount is a question only the board can answer.
The driver of the taxi I took a few days ago felt there was actually no need for the sticker because they gave the discount if people asked for it. His main objection was they had to pay P800 for the sticker.
I also cannot understand why it cost that much or why drivers and/or operators have to pay for the “honor” of carrying the sticker. Of course, the sticker helps to remind passengers who are entitled to the discount, but why the fee?
The driver had a theory. He suspected that some people at LTFRB, knowing they would have to go when a new President was elected, were trying to prepare for their “retirement.”
Food saving tips
Filipinos, traditionally hospitable, usually prepare more food than is actually needed during the holidays and any other occasion.
We want family and guests to have more than what they can actually eat. “Doggie bags” are part of our party preparations. We anticipate that some people may want to bring home some of the extra food.
We often end up with a lot of unused ingredients. Here are a few suggestions from the Internet’s The Gracious Wife on what to do with some of the leftovers.
Use it to make croutons, chop it up to make a nice stuffing or dressing, or even process it to make breadcrumbs to use in meatballs or meat loaf.
Store extra apples and potatoes near each other. Potatoes stored with apples will sprout less quickly, extending their shelf life, preventing waste and saving you money.
Freeze fruits and vegetables
Freeze some leftover produce, like onions or carrots. Mrs. Gracious says, “Just chop up the remaining produce, divide it into cup or half-cup portions, place them in freezer bags and place in your freezer until the next time you need them.”
You can also freeze produce you already chopped up but did not actually use. Place the chopped onion or pepper or any other produce in a bag and put in the freezer. You will probably not need a whole vegetable the next time you cook.
Find creative ways to use produce that you don’t want to freeze. Leftover fruits and vegetables may be used after the holidays to make breads, muffins, syrup and cupcakes for breakfasts.
You may also try to re-grow leftover produce like green onions.
After the holidays, check what remains in the refrigerator. Mrs. Gracious says, “You may need to bump a meal up a day to use produce that could go bad soon or use for lunch leftovers that have almost hit their shelf-life.”
Keep your refrigerator organized, putting older and more perishable stuff at the front.
New use for bamboo
Human Nature, a personal care brand using natural materials, and Minka Ventures have come up with toothbrushes with bamboo handles.
The company says the product is part of its efforts to “provide natural oral care products… and bring dental services to the country’s poorest through Project Smiles of Goodness.”
Mark Rivera, Minka cofounder and managing director, says bamboo “is the best replacement” for plastic that takes a long time to degrade. The bamboo toothbrush is supposedly “naturally antimicrobial and water-resistant.”
Merry Christmas!
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