Ligaya & Cooking for Others
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Jovert
One way Mama showed her love was through food: cooking for people, buying food that people enjoy, and making sure they're well-fed.
Kahit walang special occasion, nilulutaan ni Mama si Tita Rosie ng chicken feet, pig ears, at iba pang mga dishes.
As for me: I once tried to make poutine with Ehrin and it didn't turn out well. Around that time, Mama started bringing home McDonald's poutine on a regular basis. As recently as June 2024, even though she wasn't feeling well, nilutuan pa rin ako ni Mama sa umaga ng sinangag at itlog para mabaon ko para sa office.
Kapag may special occasion like a birthday, Christmas, o bibisita yung mga apo, Mama often started preparing the food the day before. Tapos gigising siya ng maaga para magluto. By the end of some of those days, once the guests have gone home, pagod talaga si Mama at maaga siya natutulog.
These are some of the dishes Mama would make:
Kiampeng
As I got older, nagustuhan ko 'tong rice dish. Punong puno ng umami salamat sa chopped bits of hebi, shallots, barbecued pork, and re-hydrated shiitake mushrooms. Sabi ni Mama matrabaho daw mag mix habang niluluto. Tinulugan siya ni Papa once, pero hindi daw siya marunong; nag take over ulit ni Mama 😅
Pancit
Minsan, Mama would use noodles that were firm and dry; minsan, she'd use noodles that were soft and chewy. I preferred the latter, pero gusto ko yung gamit niyang sahog like halved fish balls, hipon, manok, and shiitake mushrooms mixed in with the noodles. I could take or leave the carrots and green beans.
Kare Kare
Hindi ako kumakain nito dahil hindo ko guston yung oxtails, but I think Uncle Eduard and Alma were among its fans. I'm pretty sure oxtails are expensive, but Mama didn't care; she made sure to include lots of it as well as lots of peanut butter. Yung dalawang yun ang talagang nagpapasarap nitong dish.
Maja Blanca
Ito ang isa sa mga signature dishes ni Mama. Lagi niyang nireregalo pag Christmas. I didn't eat this very much, but now that I'll never get to have it again, I wish I could have some.
Ginataan
In recent years, nagustuhan ko rin itong dessert, which can be eaten warm or cold, but I I prefer when it's been chilled in the fridge. My favourites are the banana and ube pieces.
Fruit Salad
This is another dish I didn't eat very much, mostly because I don't often eat fruits. I'm not sure which fruits are in this particular salad—it varied—but there is pineapple in this one.
Lagi ni Mama dinadamihan yung pagkain para hindi bitin at siguradong maraming mauuwi ang mga bisita.
Naalala ko rin, Mama would call a vendor named Sally—usually at the last minute—to order 100 pieces of lumpiang shannghai and over 100 pieces of empanada. She would also order frozen ones for us and to give to Jen and Tita Rosie. Bago niya ibababa yung phone, lagi niyang binibilin kay Sally: "Wag mong susunugin, ha." Then, when Sally delivered the food, Mama would always give her a hefty tip.
Rosie
Basta gawa or luto ni Gay, masarap talaga. Hindi ka magugutom pag siya ang kasama mo. Atsaka bibili iyan ng maraming pagkain at magtatanong pa iyan kung anong gusto mo.
Richard
I remember whenever I went to her house for sleepovers, parating may merienda.
Jayson
Madalas may McDonald's food pag galing sa work si Mama. Minsan libre siya; minsan bilihan lang kami kasi half-price. Yung pic sa kanan, from phone cam gallery ko dated August 25, 2022. Galing sa trabaho si Mama at may dalang McDo food. Eto yung para sa akin. Natuwa lang, kaya naisipan kong kunan ng pic that time.
Jovert
I remember how Mama would announce whenever the oil that the fries and chicken nuggets were fried in was fresh. And when there was a new product, you can bet she'd bring some home para matikman natin.
Aside from food, Mama ensured there were plenty of coupons to give out. One year, my friend at work was really into McDonald's Monopoly. Mama brought home so many tokens for my friend; she and I claimed so many free cheeseburgers from those tokens.
Other times, my friend from high school would ask for happy meal toys or Halloween trick or treat buckets. Mama always delivered.
Susan
She loved to cook. She loved to try new things. And the thing is, she was never madamot. Pag nasubukan niya masarap, may extra.
Rosie
Basta meron siya nakain na masarap, hindi pwedeng hindi natin matitikman din.
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