Mr. Rockefeller... Hellleerrr!

A few days after New Year, Sarita invited the fab four out to lunch. We were to meet at Mr. Rockefeller on the second floor of Greenbelt 3. She was already there when we arrived, seated at the corner of one of the banquettes. After the customary greetings we started to launch into conversation... what else is new? Not even 2012 could change that.

I think we were already having too much fun talking the waiter started to inquire politely if we were ready to order... Heavens, this was just too much fun! So, immediately we decided to look at the menu. I wasn't with the fab four the last time they dined there so I looked and inspected the menu with a lot of  inquiries.

I couldn't decide so I ordered a Coke and then left the rest of the courses to  my friends.

It was up to them to decide what we were having for lunch. I wasn't with them the last time they dined there so everything that was to come was some sort of a surprise for me. In between cigarette breaks for the three of them the platters started arriving while I was alone at the table so I was able to take photos of all that food.

For starters we were served oysters three ways: cheese and garlic, oysters Rockefeller and...tadaaahh... fresh! Unfortunately, I had left my camera behind so I had to contend with my mobile phone's camera which doesn't do the food much justice. Note to self...always bring camera!!!!

We then had green salad with bits of tuna, shrimp and squid. The salad was quite light with crunchy lettuce leaves and drizzled with a citrus dressing that was a perfect foil for the seafood. The dressing cuts the salinity as well as the fishy taste.

To depart a bit from the lot of seafood we were about to eat, Sarita decided to go turf by ordering a steak cooked medium rare. the huge slab of meat came with a siding of mashed potatoes, buttered veggies and some thick gravy. As Rachel Ray would say... "Yumm-o!" Each of us decided we should have a quarter of the meat so we had the waiter bring it back to the kitchen to have the inch-thick prime cut of beef sliced into four.

I wanted some rice. The seafood kebab had plenty of it as sidings. First, the skewers had quartered onions, shrimp, cubes of  tuna, marlin and grilled to perfection. The rice came in the form of a risotto which had some saffron in it... sort of a cross over of a paella.

Prawns cooked in crab fat came in as another savory dish. The pasta was al dente and swimming in a medley of huge prawns cooked and sauteed in plenty of garlic and salty crab fat... more popularly known in Tagalog as "aligue".

You would think by this time all of us had had enough... there was this warm dish of baked white fish that was heavily crusted with thick white sauce and salty parmessan cheese which had just the right crunch. I think the fillet of fish was a cream dory that had been steamed and baked in the sauce until all the cheese had ,melted and re-hardened.

We had relished every morsel... So we walked over to Cafe Breton for some coffee... and more talk!!!

Traslacion 2012 - Quiapo Fiesta

It was a traslacion like no other! Days before the Quiapo fiesta 2012, media had predicted 8-10 million pax in attendance. The "traslacion" is a term used to describe the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from its original altar in Intramuros to the main altar in Quiapo Church. I'm not going into the history of that. I've written about it in an earlier blog! 

I was up at 3:30 a.m. as I had made arrangements with friends to attend the Mass after the all-night vigil. We were at the Quirino Grandstand area at 5:30 a.m. and jostled for a suitable location to be able to view the widescreen. By then, devotees were starting to arrive. The Mass was ushered in by fireworks from the area of the Manila Hotel. Security was particularly tight since there was a threat to disrupt the fiesta celebrations. Threat or no threat... a gazillion devotees remained unfazed!

Mass over, we headed for our usual spot by the National Museum near the Lagusnilad. For many years past, we usually bide our time conversing with fellow devotees before the carriage of the Nazarene passed by. This year is so different from the past years. Usually, by noon, the procession would be going by our spot and we'd have lunch at some restaurant nearby.

I'm glad, I had the chance to eat 2 ham sandwiches for breakfast. After Mass, a friend handed out some pan de sal with slices of spam. I also brought my own mint water with honey to tide me over for the wait. Thank God for my foresight!!!! It was nearly 4:15 when the image of the Black Nazarene cleared P. Burgos street.

The waiting was punctuated with human interest stories of why devotees flock to the fiesta every 9th of January. Petitions granted by the Nazarene come a-plenty. I'm just there to give thanks and praise. One devotee I interviewed is 22 years of age. He has been a "mamamasan" (shoulder lifter, literally) since he was 13. No less than ex-VP Noli de Castro has noted that devotees have increased over the years... and they get younger and younger.

While waiting, news came to us that the back tire of carriage of the image suffered a flat before it even reached the Manila Hotel area. Then by the time it reached the Planetarium, both tires at the back had given out. Ergo, masses of barefoot men had to bear the weight of the carriage and pushed while others holding on to the ropes pulled with all their might. Efforts to load the image on a flatbed were met with derision. Devotees clambered on to the truck to prevent that from happening.

Injuries are expected from the millions of people who trek to the traslacion. If you've never experienced it, imagine a can of sardines... but with people instead of fish... there's men in all stages of disheveled states... barely enough breathing space in between. So If you're wary of your personal space being invaded... stay home and pray.  This scene is NOT for you!

I literally had to climb a tree and cling on for dear life as the procession passed by. That's how I got the "money shots" for my fiesta album. I'm there every year and it seems I never get tired of taking photos. My devotion to the Nazarene is as deep as everybody else's. It just so happens that when I talk to the people there I begin to see that their needs come before my own... I realize that I am indeed truly blessed!

So as the procession passes by I am awed by the immense faith of our countrymen... inspired by their religious fervor... and thankful for the graces i receive every day. Some naysayers lambast this as fanaticism.   I would think it's a local manifestation of their faith. As I leave for home, I pray for the millions like me who have to brave the rest of the festivities. Because this one was perhaps the longest and most laborious procession I've ever attended, I consider this the "Mother of all Traslacions"!

The latest report I got was that the image of the Black Nazarene was to be conveyed directly to the Quiapo Church since its faulty carriage was delaying the procession. But the devotees would not hear of it! The image was successfully brought into the church at 6 a.m. the following morning, 10 January. See you next year!!!!

Back To The Grind But With A Twist

Okay, people! I know it's the first workday of 2012, but officially the Christmas season doesn't end until the Feast of the Epiphany comes around. Years ago, classes didn't start again until after January 6th which was the feast of the three kings. Of course, since then the church calendar has changed immensely. Nowadays, the feast is celebrated on the first Sunday of January. This year it falls on the 7th. So I guess most catholic schools and universities will resume after that.

Because of this change, people have forgotten that after the revelry to usher in the New Year the holidays go on at least until the first week of January. So, okay, people have to start going back to work which is a downer... Back to the drudgery, then! But!!!! and there's a big but in the sentence, the joy and the spirit of Christmas should go on! And I'm talking not just for the month of January but for the entire 2012!!!!

Let's not kid each other, though... If you're Filipino, chances are you're looking for the next fiesta to come around just so you can add some zing to your doldrums. I know I'm right! Half of the population wishes it was still Christmas, while the other half looks forward to Holy Week! But before that happens, the feast of the Black Nazarene comes around on a Monday, the 9th of January. Manila is virtually paralyzed when this day comes around. The day before the feast day, the holy image is transferred to the Quirino Grandstand and on the day itself, Manila's main thoroughfares are choked with the procession.

*image taken from Manilamap.com courtesy of Ms Rose Marie Mendoza

On the third Sunday of January, the Sto. Nino de Tondo holds its annual celebrations. Much like the ones in Cebu and Aklan, the streets of Tondo come alive with the rythmic beating of drums and shouts of "Hala, Bira!" Those who can afford it, fly off to the Visayas for a little more regional flavor and maybe some time at the beach. Boracay, here we come!

In Binondo, the revelry continues as the year of the Water Dragon comes around early for 2012. The twelve year cycle to usher in the Chinese New Year happens on January 23rd. This early, trinkets of various forms are starting to crowd the curio shops of Binondo, the enclave of the Filipino Chinese descendants of pre- colonial traders. Feng Shui geomancers are making all sorts of predictions to bring in prosperity and good luck for those who ascribe to their synchretic religious beliefs. It is time to buy your tikoy and kiat-kiat and your bagwa. Time to burn the guan po and incinerate paper money whilst popping the firecrackers to ward off bad luck.

I've covered pretty much for now...that's about one festival per week for the first month of 2012... and then Valentine's Day come around... but that's another blog entry!

New Year's Eve/ 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!!!! It is hoped that 2012 brings less natural disasters, more liquidity, happier times, a higher sense of well-being, a more conscientious government, a reduced foreign debt, less traffic, higher employment, increased tourism both inbound and outbound. What more can I ask for?

For the most part of 31 December, I spent the day in doors... in the kitchen specifically. I was up early, did my chores and got home a little before lunch. I had a little brunch  and started to feel sleepy. Took a nap. Then when I got up, it was nearly four p.m. 

I started prepping for my Media Noche, which wasn't really much. I had bought some herbs and spices the day before and then started slaving away. This year was a little more complicated than the past Christmases with my brother. It's pretty difficult to figure out if he would taste my cooking. For him, any meal is fried chicken and rice...

I started preparing the Asian spring rolls with rice paper wrappers that lends its translucent quality to show off the herbs of Thai basil and mint incorporated in the rolls. I included shrimp, vermicelli, bell pepper, chives and shredded carrots. The rolls are slatered with a asian dip of chilli flakes, patis and vinegar. It's very easy to do once you get into the rythmn of  assembling all the ingredients and getting the rice paper wet. If you let it wait to long the wrapper starts to stick to your plate.

I then cooked the ham in its pineapple sauce with some salt, pepper and some brown sugar. I added some water and slowly reduced the liquid over very low heat just so i don't waste any time. Thinly sliced the ham and let it caramelize over the sweet sticky liquid. that took about 2 hours to cook for a pound of ham. It's perfect with a slab of Marca Pato queso de bola on white bread slathered with good old mayo!

Next came the cream dory with parsley breading. Slice the fillet into "fingers". Dip into beaten egg to bind the breading mix into the fillets. The parsley should be finely chopped and set aside. Once the fillets have been dipped into egg dredge into the parsley and then dip into egg and dredge in the bread crumbs. Panko will work well with it too. Then fry the fish slivers until golden brown. Be sure to drain off excess oil on paper towels. Serve with sprigs of herbs ans sauce tartare or plain ketchup.

I used crushed Graham crackers and butter for the crumb crust of the apple tarts. Cream cheese, condensed milk and all-purpose cream were mixed and allowed to emulsify. Then I filled the small tart pans with my apple concoction of fresh apples, cinnamon and brown sugar. Top with the cream and  chill in the freezer. Then I made a no-bake cherry cheesecake with store-bought Oreo crust (why complicate life, huh?). Filled in the crust with the cheesecake and topped with canned cherry filling. To the freezer it goes! That was it!

By the time I had finished, it was nearly ten p.m. and I had to get ready for the fireworks and the merry-making. Just in the nick of time.

Enjoy 2012!!!

New Year's Eve/ 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!!!! It is hoped that 2012 brings less natural disasters, more liquidity, happier times, a higher sense of well-being, a more conscientious government, a reduced foreign debt, less traffic, higher employment, increased tourism both inbound and outbound. What more can I ask for?

For the most part of 31 December, I spent the day in doors... in the kitchen specifically. I was up early, did my chores and got home a little before lunch. I had a little brunch  and started to feel sleepy. Took a nap. Then when I got up, it was nearly four p.m. 

I started prepping for my Media Noche, which wasn't really much. I had bought some herbs and spices the day before and then started slaving away. This year was a little more complicated than the past Christmases with my brother. It's pretty difficult to figure out if he would taste my cooking. For him, any meal is fried chicken and rice...

I started preparing the Asian spring rolls with rice paper wrappers that lends its translucent quality to show off the herbs of Thai basil and mint incorporated in the rolls. I included shrimp, vermicelli, bell pepper, chives and shredded carrots. The rolls are slatered with a asian dip of chilli flakes, patis and vinegar. It's very easy to do once you get into the rythmn of  assembling all the ingredients and getting the rice paper wet. If you let it wait to long the wrapper starts to stick to your plate.

I then cooked the ham in its pineapple sauce with some salt, pepper and some brown sugar. I added some water and slowly reduced the liquid over very low heat just so i don't waste any time. Thinly sliced the ham and let it caramelize over the sweet sticky liquid. that took about 2 hours to cook for a pound of ham. It's perfect with a slab of Marca Pato queso de bola on white bread slathered with good old mayo!

Next came the cream dory with parsley breading. Slice the fillet into "fingers". Dip into beaten egg to bind the breading mix into the fillets. The parsley should be finely chopped and set aside. Once the fillets have been dipped into egg dredge into the parsley and then dip into egg and dredge in the bread crumbs. Panko will work well with it too. Then fry the fish slivers until golden brown. Be sure to drain off excess oil on paper towels. Serve with sprigs of herbs ans sauce tartare or plain ketchup.

I used crushed Graham crackers and butter for the crumb crust of the apple tarts. Cream cheese, condensed milk and all-purpose cream were mixed and allowed to emulsify. Then I filled the small tart pans with my apple concoction of fresh apples, cinnamon and brown sugar. Top with the cream and  chill in the freezer. Then I made a no-bake cherry cheesecake with store-bought Oreo crust (why complicate life, huh?). Filled in the crust with the cheesecake and topped with canned cherry filling. To the freezer it goes! That was it!

By the time I had finished, it was nearly ten p.m. and I had to get ready for the fireworks and the merry-making. Just in the nick of time.

Enjoy 2012!!!

Rizal Day

I wonder how many Filipinos recall why today is a holiday. Seriously, I think everyone is so hyped over the long weekend to mark the New Year celebrations they've forgotten the reason why the 30th of December is declared a National holiday.

On the morning of December 30th, 1896, Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda was roused from his sleep at around six or seven in the morning in his chapel cell at Fort Santiago. With hands tied behind his back a funeral cortege accompanied him on a long agonizing walk to Bagumbayan where his execution took place.

Immediately after, his remains were brought to an undisclosed area (later to be found as Paco Park). At that time, Paco Park was an independent structure often used for Sunday corridas and then later became the gravesite of Chinese who have passed on but have not been baptized into Catholicism. Rizal was interred with "heathens" owing to the fact that he had espoused Freemasonry. He was also ordered to recant and go back into the fold. Noone can be certain if he did in fact turn away from the brotherhood.

Anyway, his role is incidental in the drive for nationhood. Whether or not he was anti-revolution, he was the central figure with which all other events unfolding towards the revolution against Spain was anchored. His writings exposed Spanish tyranny, incited a rebellious spirit among indios, gave rise to the fight against oppression and changed the course of a nation's history.

After 150 years, Rizal remains the first Filipino. His life and works served as cinder that sparked the country's   conflagration to be free. Now, I ask... with the way our country is faring... Have we forgotten his sacrifices? 

Ninos Inocentes

People seem to forget that Christmas doesn't abruptly end on December 25. After the one hundred and fifteen days that have been counted down to the Big Day since the start of September, it seems that all the festivities of the holidays screech to a grinding halt after the 25th of December.

I spent Christmas Day with a heavy brunch of whole wheat bread and ham and cheese. Then I headed out for Quiapo church where I heard Mass and then went to the office to do some tithing for the Nazarene. I did go around the market area for some bargains to garnish the Christmas table. Then I headed home so I could change my clothes for another gathering that I had agreed to attend. After all, I haven't seen my friends at the Lady of Remedies in Malate for a while.

When I got to the church, Fr. Kevin McHugh was celebrating the Eucharist at twelve o'clock Mass so i had to wait a little. The Mel came to the convento and After Mass we were joined by Jenny Crespo. We headed to The Aristocrat as Wok Inn was closed for the holiday. I wasn't too hungry so Mel Jenny and I shared a plate of Pancit Canton, Lumpiang Shanghai. Mel ordered a Chicken Barbeque. Jenny had a Clubhouse Sandwich. I got a soda as usual. 

After a few minutes. Artem and Joy Deanon arrived together with their two kids who have obviously grown since I last saw them. We had a lot of catching up to do so before we knew it, lunch had extended all the way till four o'clock.

My next stop was at the Recto Residence where I animatedly chatted and spent time with June Recto and Family. His sister had just arrived from the US on the eve of Christmas with husband Carlo in tow. We had so much fun munching on pizza. I had brought  Ate Didith green mangoes as a present.

There was so much horsing around I had gone home late.

The next day, I worked out and then I cooked up a batch of pasta with three cheese sauce which I had prepared for Jojo Santos. After dinner, we headed out for some coffee supposedly but ended up in SM/Glorietta for some Lechon that June's cousin was going to cook up into paksiw for her husband. While at the food court in SM, I ended up having Razon's halo-halo and ensaymada and then bought a bottle of Aligue from Pampanga.

Next thing I knew it was eleven p.m. But I digress...

So  today the 28th of December marks the Innocents' Day. It commemorates the day Herod had learned from the Magi that the new King had been born. Jealous and threatened by his eventual loss of power he orders his army to slay all the male children below two years of age born within that period when the star of Bethlehem appeared. One can only imagine the bloodshed that it took. Naturally, fun loving-Filipinos have turned Ninos Inocentes as some sort of April Fool's day by playing pranks on each other. The Catholic Church is vocal with the fact that the holiday is a religious tradition in that the Christians  must  recall and reflect on the toll of innocent lives taken at their purest and untainted stage. These nameless children who suffered at the hands of the mighty have now ironically, achieved immortality...