MANILA - A Philippine-based Syrian travel vlogger spent hours to cook meals for Taal evacuees.
Basel, who goes by "The Hungry Syrian Wanderer" on social media, shared a photos of him preparing food for the evacuees.
In his caption, Basel said he cooked a thousand pieces of chicken wings and Chicken Kabsa. He will then go around Batangas to distribute the meals.
"My first time ever to cook 1,103 pcs of Chicken Wings in ONE GO! (I really counted so I'm aware of the packed meals I'll be distributing today. 😊) and made Chicken Kabsa, a famous Syrian dish (very similar to Chiken Biryani, if familiar). Topped with nuts, cashew, (didnt find pistachios) etc.I added dates na din hehe. Not exactly complete ingredients but very close and did my best to finish 5 rounds of big giant kawa!" he said in the caption.
Basel also shared it took him 7 hours to cook and 4 hours to pack everything.
" I never cooked before I left Syria, so my mom would be so proud once she sees this haha. Shout out to my mama, eto na po yung anak nyong puro kain lang at walang alam sa pagluluto dati 😂" he also wrote.
Aside from distributing meals, he has also distributed relief goods to people in remote areas near the volcano, which he shared in a recent vlog.
A self-proclaimed "adopted son of the Philippines," Basel said he moved to the Philippines 7 years ago when war broke out in Syria.
The vlogger is known for his humanitarian work. Last year he bought 1,000 blankets, tents for Mindanao quake victims.
He also bought rice from local farmers who were suffering from low rice prices, and gave the grains to the quake victims.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
BASEL, Switzerland - Roger Federer displayed some rare flashes of temper as he battled past Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 for an eighth Swiss Indoors title in front of a partisan Basel crowd on Sunday.
The 36-year-old local favourite, beaten by Del Potro in consecutive Basel finals in 2012 and 2013, was ragged at times and looked in danger of an unwanted hat-trick, but showed all his fighting qualities to turn the match around.
Fourth seed Del Potro, making a late run to try and qualify for next month's ATP World Tour Finals in London, broke serve in the first game of the decider but wilted as Federer stormed back to the delight of a raucous crowd inside the St Jakobshalle.
World number two Federer charged into a 5-2 lead and while Del Potro delayed the end by holding serve, Federer would not be denied and racked up his 95th career title as Del Potro fired a backhand long under pressure.
In edging past Ivan Lendl's 94 Federer is now alone in second place on the all-time titles list which American great Jimmy Connors leads with 109.
However, his chances of snatching the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal before the end of the season are all but over as the Swiss pulled out of next week's Paris Masters citing a back injury.
Federer, who trails Nadal by 1,460 points in the rankings, has taken regular breaks during the season to rest his body and no doubt opted to skip the Paris tournament to prepare for next month's ATP Finals in London.
Del Potro would have moved into the eighth and final qualifying spot for London had he claimed a third Basel title, but now must reach the semi-finals at least in the French capital to make it to the season-ending tournament.
"All the best for Paris and then I'll hopefully maybe see you in London, too," Federer said after an intense battle with the 29-year-old Argentine who fell just short of claiming a second successive title after winning in Stockholm.
Federer broke serve in the opening game but Del Potro hit back immediately when Federer netted a backhand.
Del Potro struggled to hold serve and cracked at 4-4 under a flurry of Federer winners. Federer could not serve out the set though and was broken as Del Potro took it to a tiebreak.
Federer went 3-0 up but lost six successive points. He saved two set points but Del Potro took the opener on his third chance -- leaving Federer flustered.
The 19-times grand slam champion smashed his racket into the net at one point during the opening set, but it was Del Potro's turn to lose his cool when he dropped serve at 4-5 in the second as the crowd roared Federer on.
Del Potro took the opening game of the decider but looked fatigued as Federer found another gear to surge back.
(Writing by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)
source: news.abs-cbn.com
