Mulan’s Crowning Glory

Record breaker! This post made it to the list of Popular Posts after only a week it was published!

Mulan is the inspiring Chinese legendary heroine who had long beautiful straight black hair, typical of Chinese maidens, but she cut off her precious mane to fulfill a mission that's more than beauty.  She defied age old tradition and saved not only her father but the whole of China.

Disney's Mulan with pet, Cri-kee the cricket

Hua Mulan Combs & Asian Arts

In the modern times, Mulan had inspired a store that sells special combs, brushes and hair ornaments-- Hua Mulan Combs & Asian Arts.

Hua Mulan's package

Hua Mulan combs are hand-made in China using 100% natural materials.  Some of their combs are made of yellow willow wood, pear wood, peach wood and sandal wood.  Some of their combs are made of goat and ox’s horn.    Other combs are a combination of wood and horn.   

My hair is healthier with natural shine

Hua Mulan combs when used often can minimize hair fall and breakage since they have lesser friction compared to plastic and metal combs.  They stimulate the scalp to release its natural oils making hair healthier and grow faster.  
 
















Hua Mulan combs also relieve stress and reduce headache.  The use of pure horn comb has added benefits.  According to Chinese traditional medicine, using combs that are made of pure goat or ox’s horn minimizes gray hair and can alleviate illnesses such as neurasthenia, fever, rheumatism.  Horn combs also lower blood pressure and aid detoxification.  

 

Pure goat's horn comb in gift box, P860.00

Pure goat's horn comb is simple yet elegant

The carvings in the comb are hand-made

Wooden and horn combs signify smooth relationships and sensitivity to others.  Thus, Hua Mulan combs are ideal gifts for people who are very dear to our hearts.  Hua Mulan combs are quite expensive but worth the cost.  Aside from the health benefits, the combs and hair ornaments have exquisite paintings and carvings that are all made by hand.  The combs have simple but elegant appearance.  In the Philippines, a Hua Mulan store is located in SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.  

According to the legend, Mulan cut her precious long mane to disguise herself as a male in order to become a palace warrior in place of her father.  After all her adventure, Mulan probably used a comb made of pure goat’s horn to bring back the beauty of her crowning glory.  

Mulan (1998 Disney Film) — The Story as Retold Through Sword Swings

Chinese literature says that Mulan was believed to be of had the surname, Hua.  Fa was Disney's watered down version of Hua.

Fa Mulan is not just an ordinary girl who puts her fate to an old tradition of matched marriage.  She is free-spirited, clumsy and often gets away with her mischief. 

Carefree Mulan

But she wanted to please her family so she consented on being sent to a Matchmaker to prepare her find a suitable husband. 


Mulan's 8 Lucky Steps to Beauty:

Step 1: Start with a good bath for glowing skin

Step 2 & 3: Brighten up your eyes and sweep your cheeks with blush

Step 4: Create pouty lips with glossy color

Step 5: Groom your hair

Step 6: Complete the look with a killer dress

Step 7:  Check if everything is well put together before you go out

Step 8: Be confident beside other girls!

Several girls were being screened.  Mulan waited until the Matchmaker called her name.

"Fa Mulan!" calls the Matchmaker

During the encounter with the Matchmaker, Mulan was not focused and goofed her way through the tests.

Mulan recites the wife's oath, " Fulfill your duties calmly and... respectfully."

Flashback:  Mulan made notes of the oath on her arm before she dressed up

"Umm...reflect before you snack..." Mulan peeps on the code written on her arm

"Act!  This shall bring you honor and glory..."

The Matchmaker grabs Mulan's arm on which the oath is written in black ink

Matchmaker tells Mulan to pour tea for her husband, unaware that her hand is stained with ink from Mulan's arm

Matchmaker continues to lecture through hand gestures on her face

Matchmaker's face is all smeared with black ink and discovers it

The Matchmaker discovered Mulan’s trickery of the oath and messing up the rituals with a cricket companion.  The Matchmaker was fuming mad and hastily told Mulan that she will never bring her family honor.  

Mulan cries over the tombs of her ancestors after her humiliating failure with the Matchmaker

"Why is my reflection someone I don't know?"

Fa Zhou reassures Mulan that she has worth despite her failure with the Matchmaker

But Mulan was destined to prove the Matchmaker’s words wrong. The deadly Huns have invaded China and one man from every family was called by the Imperial Palace to serve in the war.  The Fa family had no son, so Mulan’s father insisted on joining the army despite his old age and war scars.  

Mulan pleads to spare her father from the war

 

Fa Zhou will go to the war despite his old age

Fa Zhou practicing his sword as Mulan peeps on

Mulan skulks outside and cries out her pity for her father as the sky sheds raindrops

Wet feet leadMulan to the tombs of her ancestors

Mulan prays to her ancestors for guidance in her plan to save her father

Mulan wanted to save her father from the perils of the war.  So she disguised herself as a male by cutting off her long sleek beautiful black hair.  She then stole her father’s sword, armor and letter of enlistment in the Imperial Army and rode her horse, Khan, to join the training of a group of palace soldiers.  

Mulan leaves her hairclip over the chest where her father's sword has been

Poses to cut hair with sword

Oh no! Not your one beauty!..

Mulan becomes Ping

Mulan rides away with Khan

Mulan's ancestors discuss what to do to stop Mulan

Along the way, Mulan met Mushu, a small dragon who introduced himself as having been sent by Mulan’s ancestors to make her change her mind.  But Mulan was determined and posed herself as a young man named Ping to an army of soldiers.  

Mulan meets Mushu, the guardian sent by her ancestors

Ping introduces 'himself' to Commander Li Shang

Mulan gained interesting male friends, Yao, Ling and Chien Po, during the training and she secretly fell in love with the good looking and brave Commander Li Shang who really thought she was a man.  As Ping was clumsy, Shang was determined to make a man out of ‘him’. 

Ling, Yao and Chien Po befriend Ping

Ping goofs in the archery training

 

It was through Mulan’s intelligence though that she was admitted as soldier in the army, she was able to solve a difficult puzzle given by Shang.   Mulan soon developed into one of the Army’s best soldiers.  

Practice makes perfect soldiers

In one battle that they fought with the Huns to avenge the death of Shang’s father and his army, Mulan defeated the enemies through an avalanche she caused by firing a rocket.  She also saved Shang's life during the snow avalanche.  But she got seriously wounded and her secret was revealed.  Shang was angry at Mulan and he discharged her from his group of soldiers.  But as repayment for her heroic deed, Shang spared Mulan from death, a supposed penalty for her lie. 

Ping fires rocket on the snow cap

Snow avalanche swallows the Huns

Mushu looks for Mulan beneath the snow and finds a Hun

Mulan saves Shang from avalanche

Shan Yu survives the snow avalanche

Mulan sustains injury

Mulan's wound is treated by Shang's men but they're in for a surprise

Her secret is revealed!

Mulan was left behind by Shang's Army when they learned she's female

Mushu comforts Mulan

Oh, it's good to have a friend when everyone has left you!

Mulan discovered that Shan Yu, the leader of the Huns, and his five generals survived their previous battle and were heading towards the Imperial City.  She warned Shang and persuaded him to help his team in protecting the Emperor.  Shang declined her.  

Mulan warns Shang but receives the cold shoulder

But when the Huns were able to take siege in the palace and held the Emperor as captive, Shang together with Yao, Li, and Chien Po joined Mulan in her plan to rescue the Emperor. 

Shang's team joined Mulan in the Imperial City

Mulan together with Yao, Ling and Chien Po posed as concubines to trick the guards.  Shang was able to enter the Palace.   Yao, Li, and Chien Po escaped with the Emperor.  Mulan stayed behind with Shang to fight Shan Yu.  But Shan Yu knocked Shang unconscious.  Mulan was pursued by Shan Yu, high up the palace’s roof.  Through Mulan’s smart strategy, she unarmed Shan Yu by darting a paper fan against his hand and then pin him on the roof through his sword, thus giving a chance to Mushu to hit Shan Yu with a fast exploding gigantic firecracker.   Thus, the whole palace and the Emperor were saved.

These three are not so pretty concubines

Mulan stays behind with Shang in the Palace

Shan Yu fights with Mulan on the Imperial Palace's roof

Mushu to the rescue with the rockets

In the midst of a vast sea of rejoicing citizens, the Emperor acknowledged Mulan’s valor and gifted her with his personal crest and the sword of Shan Yu.  The Emperor bowed to Mulan and everyone else in the throng followed the gesture.   Shang congratulated Mulan for her heroism, he wanted to say more but had reservations on telling her his personal feelings.   

Emperor acknowledges Mulan's valor in front of the citizens

Mulan gets the Emperor's crest as reward

Shang congratulates Mulan but gets tongue-tied

Mulan went home alone and apologized to her father for what she’d done.   She offered him the crest and the sword.  Her father was just glad to have her back and was so proud of the honor that she gave to the Fa family.  

Mulan goes home

Inspite of the honor, Mulan was sad because of broken heart.  But soon Shang, in the guise of returning Mulan’s helmet, went after her in her family’s home.  Shang met Mulan’s father who understood that love has grown between his daughter and the Commander. 

Mulan is pensive as she offers her rewards to her father, unknown to her Shang followed her in their home

Mulan and Shang coyly talked beneath the cherry blossoms.  Mulan invited Shang to have dinner with the family.  Shang accepted.

Shang returns Mulan's helmet

In Disney’s direct to video sequel, Shang married Mulan and they had children.

The Li Family

Mulan is a perfect example of beauty with a purpose.

      

The Pirate’s Fate —A Cook-and-Tell Story on Halloween's Eve

This Halloween’s Eve, I initially decided just to cook, but the dish led me to tell a li'l bit of scary story.

Here's my not-so-creepy recipe that will nevertheless give that feeling of Halloween.

Pirate’s Ghost Soup

Ingredients:

20 pieces  medium size breaded meatballs

150 grams egg noodles

1 medium head Bok Choi, leaves separated and washed well

1 medium size red onion, chopped

½ head medium size garlic, crushed

Salt and pepper

Vegetable oil

Fish sauce and monosodium glutamate (optional)

Ready-to-fry breaded meatballs can be bought from supermarkets

Misua or egg noodles

Bok Choi is a relative of cabbage, also rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidants

Onion and garlic are rich in anti-oxidants that fight cancer

Heat oil in the pan.  You’ll know the oil is already hot if it turns transparent and emits some smoke.  Fry the meatballs until brown on all sides.  Set aside.  Reserve the oil.

Fry meatballs on sides, no need to deep fry

Pretty fried meatballs

In a casserole, pour around 2 tablespoons of oil from the frying pan.  Sautee onions and garlic at the same time, stir until the skin of the garlic separates from the flesh and the onions are wilted.  Pour approximately 10 cups of water, let it boil.  The soup will now produce an appetizing garlic-onion smell. 

Put in the bok choi leaves and simmer for 3 minutes until the bok choi leaves turn greener.  Pour in the meatballs and continue simmering for 2 minutes.  Put in the egg noodles and stir, simmer for 2 minutes until the noodle strands separate.

Put salt and pepper to taste.  You may add fish sauce or monosodium glutamate to enhance the taste. Simmer for 1 more minute and turn off heat.

To make a ghost form in your soup:
In a bowl, pour 2 cups of soup.  On the upper portion, arrange some noodles in the shape of hair.  Put 2 meatballs to form the eyes, then some bok choi leaves to serve as brows, nose and lips.  The way I arranged the leaves into lips made a kind of mustache.  It looked more of a pirate's ghost appearing in the soup.

 

A pirate's face in your soup

For drinks, pomegranate juice will best serve as blood juice.

Dessert of round cake will serve as the twilight moon.  My sister got 2 delicious cake rounds from Lia's Cakesinseason in Kapitolyo, Pasig City.  This bakeshop is known for fruit flavors.  Their bestseller is avocado cake.  Unfortunately my sister was not able to catch one.  All is sold out for the hallow occasion.

So, here’s that original halloween story I was able to concoct as a result of my cooking. :)

The Pirate’s Fate  (A Halloween story you'll tell from now on...)

Once upon a Halloween’s Eve, the full moon was so silvery bright.  Only an unseen howling wolf was disturbing the silence of the night.  Suddenly, as if summoned by the howling, a pirate’s ghost appeared in the moon.  He floated in the silvery backdrop of the moon as if looking for something. 

The moon over the howling wolf....

...turned out to be a Calamansi (Philippine lemon) tea cake-- a yellow cake base with calamansi flavored white sugar frosting

When at last he did not find what he wanted, he walked over the moon’s craters.  He was disappointed because he also did not find what he was looking for in the craters.   

The craters of the moon....

...are actually the textured caramel icing of the Banana-Caramel Cake-- a chiffon base cake with bits of banana and light creamy caramel icing and frosting

So the pirate went down to earth and haunted the first house that he saw.  The house turned out to be an ancient castle in Transylvania.  The night is deep and the majestic castle is empty and silent.  The pirate roamed around the castle until he reached the dining hall.  There was a long sturdy mahogany table, with an elegant red silk table runner.  In the middle of the long table, stood four statuesque silver candelabras with softly lit red candles.  The melted wax looked like drops of blood.  The pirate sat on the large cushioned oak chair at the head of the table.   

The pirate noticed a wine glass half filled with red liquid in front of him.  The pirate lifted the glass and smelled it.  His eyes dilated, it’s blood juice!  

The red of the pomegranate will pass as blood juice

He’s been looking for blood juice to give him flesh once more.  So he gulped the contents of the glass and slowly his ghostly form was filled with flesh.  He was human again!  The pirate rejoiced, but not for long.  

It was already dawn.  There was a rustle of wings and a large bat entered one of the tall grilled windows of the castle.  Once inside, the bat transformed into a tall man in black suit and flowing red cape.  It was the owner of the castle-- Count Dracula, back from his human impaling in the night.  

"

"Who dared intrude my castle?"  Count Dracula asked in a low deathly voice that echoed in the silent castle

The Count was mad at the sight of the pirate with the empty glass on his hand.  But soon the Count was glad that he has an early ‘breakfast’.  The pirate stiffened as soon as he saw the fearsome Count.  "You took my morning drink, you have to pay for it", the irate Count told the pirate.  The Count, being an aristocrat, customary drinks cold blood juice in a wine glass every wee morning before he retires to his coffin for a day long sleep.  Count Dracula succumbed the pirate, bit his neck and sucked all of his blood.  Count Dracula did not want the pirate to be one of his vampires because he only prefers beautiful brunette and blond women in his herd.  So the pirate turned to ghost again.  Talk about good luck and none of it. :)

The pirate's ghost went to Carribean

And that was the real end of the pirate. His ghost traveled to Carribean where he haunted the islands.

The End..... :) 















It doesn't matter how simple or extravagant our celebration of Halloween is, what's important is we don't forget to pray for our departed loved ones and friends.