Un cumpleaños lleno de cultura

En la esquina superior izquierda, en la dirección de las manecillas de reloj: 1) Krystal, Anne Gómez, y Anne Marie Andaya bailan una danza flamenca en Rockwell Club bajo la clase del destacado "maestro flamenco", el Señor Guillermo Gómez Rivera. Al fondo son el resto de La Familia Viajera. 2) La Familia Viajera, Anne Marie, y el Sr. Gómez almuerzan en Kenny Rogers Roasters, Power Plant Mall. 3. En Ayala Museum para asistir a una exposición de fotografías del siglo XIX por Félix Laureano, el primer fotógrafo filipino. 4. Ese soy yo, llevando Junífera Clarita, durante la exposición. 5. Una merienda en Museum Café con Anne Marie, Javier Ruescas (vocal de la Asociación Cultural Galeón de Manila), y Sr. Gómez. Estábamos hablando de las historias tristes de España y Filipinas, y cómo debemos defenderlas. En nuestra discusión aprendí una nueva palabra: quijotesca. Gracias, Javier. 6. Con mi hermana Jessica en Pizza Warehouse, Glorietta 3. Es la pizzería favorita de La Familia Viajera.

Acabo de tener un cumpleaños más histórico y lleno de cultura (¡y comida!) en tiempos recientes. Y la mejor manera de celebrarlo es con toda la familia y amigos queridos. ¡Gracias, Señor Dios, por mis 36 años! ¡Me siento muy joven aún!

¡Gracias por la tarta, mi hermanita Jessica! ¡Fue una sorpresa reconfortante!

Mangyan village products in Glorietta

On my first visit to Puerto Galera many years ago, I learned from whispers that the Zóbel de Ayala family has a rest house there somewhere near White Beach. After that, I kept hearing admirable stories about how they take care of the Mangyan tribes, probably as part of their corporate social responsibility. I never gave it much attention back then. But last summer, right after Momay's 10th birthday lunch at Dekada, we found this in Glorietta 3.

So the stories are true, after all. The Mangyans do have a padrino in Ayala Foundation, the social development arm of the Ayala Corporation.

The Mangyans (originally spelled as Mañguián; Mañguianes if plural) are the indigenous peoples of Mindoro Island, composed of Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental. Out of eight Mangyan groups in the said island, the Ayala Foundation is in charge of the well being of the Iraya-Mangyan. In Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental, it is estimated that about 200 families of this group are living at the foot of Monte Malasimbô, that imposing mountain one sees near popular White Beach. The Ayala Foundation bought a huge tract of land there in Sitio Talipanan, converting it into a well-managed village for the Iraya Mangyan, complete with electricity and water supply. In this village is a school for children and an area where adults are being taught various livelihood projects with focus on their weaving tradition. All products coming out of their ancient weaving assignment are then shipped to Glorietta 3 where they are to be displayed and sold.

At the second floor of Glorietta 3 (we're just not sure if it's still there) can be found a make-shift shop where the Mangyan products of Sitio Talipanan are sold. Although this shop has no name, it has an informational ad which says "Mangyan Village Products". It is written there that since 1989, Jaime Zóbel de Ayala and his wife Beatriz (the parents of famous brothers Jaime Augusto II and Fernando) brought down the marginalized Mangyans from the mountains (Monte Malasimbô) to the lowlands (Sitio Talipanan) to implement numerous educational and livelihood projects under the auspices of the Ayala Foundation with the assistance of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne. The objective is to bring them to the Filipino mainstream society and to give them decent homes.

This reminded me of how the Spanish friars of long ago took the very difficult task of civilizing, educating, and Christianizing pre-Filipino peoples who were then scattered in upland forests and riverine settlements. But not all ethnolinguistic groups were Hispanized, as evidenced by the Mangyans and their hitherto primitive lifestyle. Where the friars failed, the Zóbel de Ayala family succeeded.

Birthday boy Momay carrying a deep nito-made basket.

Juanito, perhaps our most artistically inclined child, is the one who is more interested with these Mañguián products.

I've already had many close encounters with the Mangyans because Yeyette is a Mindoreña herself; she's from Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Occidental where there are still a couple of Mangyan villages left (I just don't know to which Mangyan group they belong). The only problem is that many of these groups are being taken care of incorrectly by various Christian sects, usually only for religious conversion. That is why whenever I meet a Mangyan in Abra de Ilog, they remind me of thickly sooted beggars in Metro Manila. And yes, they do beg whenever they visit the población while the more industrious ones offer their services —various manual labor such as doing the laundry, gardening, farm hand, etc.— in exchange for money or other dry goods. These poor souls have lost their dignity. But the Ayala Foundation and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne, on the other hand, had other things in mind. And that is to empower the Mangyan. One way of doing this is by supporting the revival of the Iraya-Mangyan's weaving tradition, particularly the creation of the so-called "nito" (native vine) baskets and other related woven products such as plates, pot holders, bags, etc. These are then sold in this small shop which we found at the second level of Glorietta 3 last May 13. And the best part of it is that all proceeds go directly to the Ayala Foundation's Iraya-Mangyan Project for the benefit of the said ethnolinguistic group. ¡Bravo!

Yeyette bought a couple of intricately woven pot holders made entirely out of nito while our kids marveled at the other products showcasing the artistic side of the Iraya-Mangyan which was then unknown to the general public. It's just curious to note that these products were handmade at the foot of thickly forested Monte Malasimbô and are now being sold within the brightly electrified lights of airconditioned Glorietta 3. From forest to mall.

Click here for more photos! And stay tuned for more of our San Pedro Macati tour in the coming weeks! ¡Hasta la vista! =)

Historic birthday lunch at Dekada

For Momay's 10th birthday last summer (May 13), we treated him to a modest Filipino-style lunch at Dekada in Glorietta 3, Ayala Center.

Dekada prides itself with the tagline "Historic Filipino Cuisine".

Dekada is taken from the Spanish word "década" which means "decade", thus suggesting an ambiance of historicity in its menu. And true enough, the names on the food list comes as a mouthwatering reminder of Filipino History because they are a mixture of both familiar Filipino meals and historical names.

La Laguna salad. Because we're Lagunenses. =)

Pancít bihon guisado (with lechón caualì).

Lechón manóc (whole).

Palitáo (flat, sweet rice cakes made from malagquít rice) with muscovado sugar.

Buco halo-halo especial with condensed milk for dessert.

Saráp to the bones! (apologies to that other place).

We got Momay's birthday cupcake from nearby Vanilla Cupcake Bakery.

Customer service, at least on this branch, is fantastic! The smiles from the staff are genuine. Before we ordered our food, my wife asked permission if we could eat the birthday cupcake we bought from another establishment (Vanilla Cupcake Bakery) because it was for Momay's birthday. This would have been a problem for other establishments (we've already had our share of experience of it, that's why Yeyette had to ask permission), but not with Dekada. And while we were already enjoying their superb meal, the staff surprised us with a birthday gift: a chocolate ice cream for Momay! And they even sang a hearty "Happy Birthday" for him, bringing tears of joy to Yeyette who is easily moved to heartwarming deeds.

Happy birthday, Momay!

What do Momay and this friendly waiter have in common? Their first names are both José, and they both share the same birthdays! Happy birthday, Momay and José Balón!

Even the set up of the place is unmistakably Filipino. The decors piled up in various corners remind one of those old cluttered shelves in homely ancestral houses. The design of the tiled floor entrance is similar to those seen in a bahay na bató. Books, a vintage radio, old records, and other trinkets will make you feel as if you are eating in your own ancestral home. The cushioned seats are designed with familiar Filipino images such as old cameras and faces of patriots.

All in all, Momay's birthday lunch in Dekada cost us only ₱1,246. And the six of us were already stuffed!

❤L❤A❤F❤A❤M❤I❤L❤I❤A❤V❤I❤A❤J❤E❤R❤A❤

Our verdict:
Food: ★★★★★★★★★★
Ambiance: ★★★★★★★★★★
Customer service: ★★★★★★★★★★
Value for money: ★★★★★★★★★★

Dekada is located at the second level of Glorietta 3 in Ayala Center, Macati City. Special thanks to Manager Gerald de la Cruz and all the staff for making our brief stay there very enjoyable and memorable. For the complete photo album of Momay's 10th birthday, click here.

Sunday meetup at Greenbelt and Glorietta

As mentioned in an earlier blogpost, we were compelled to move to San Pedro Macati —now known as Makati— last summer because of the death threats we received after I incurred the evil wrath of two power-hungry politicians from Iloílo. A few days after moving in to our "hiding place", we arranged a meetup with my sisters for a merienda to tell them about our ordeal. But it wasn't all that bad. After all, Makati is Makati, where the sights and sounds never fail to entertain and captivate the senses.

We had our rendezvous at Powerbooks in Greenbelt 4.

Here's my family with my sisters Jennifer (seated) and Jessica (standing). If I am not mistaken, this is the biggest Powerbooks branch. It was also here where me and Arnaldo Arnáiz met historian Ambeth Ocampo and well-known travel blogger Glenn Martínez for the first time in 2008. At that time, this branch was then known as "Powerbooks Live!"

Jefe and Momay below Powerbooks' famous logo.

Reflected selfie.

Little Juanito holding our purchases.

After our purchases and checking out a couple of books, we proceeded to newly opened Pizza Warehouse in Glorietta 3. My sisters were the ones who found out about it. After trying out its pizza a few days before, they were hooked. And so were we. It has since become Yeyette's favorite pizza.

This store opened only a few days before, hence the balloons.

Look at the huge excitement on the faces of Jennifer and Krystal!

This huge and satisfying 18" combo pizza can certainly fill you up! It's all worth it!

Family friend Valerie Devulder joins us. This multitalented French-Filipina stunner is the granddaughter of National Artist Francisco Coching. Like her grandfather, Valerie is also into arts (painting) aside from being a captivating flamenco dancer. She was one of the performers during my "tertulia filipina" wedding reception with Yeyette last year.

Me and my sisters Jennifer and Jessica.

After parting with my sisters and Valerie, we proceeded to Family Mart also in Glorietta 3 for more snacks before going back to our "hiding place". It's a convenience store but much larger compared to the usual ones we're familiar with (such as 7-Eleven and Ministop), and it's family oriented too.

Click here for the complete photo album! And please stay tuned for more of our exodus to San Pedro Macati. ¡Hasta la vista!