inner foodie

Today is Mom's birthday and I had promised to get her a copy of Flowers, White House Style that I found on sale in Ali Mall. When I returned to the bookstore, however, I couldn't find it anymore- it had already been bought by someone else.

I'd like to think that since Mom's birthday falls on Pentecost this year, the Spirit of Invention guided me to find an even better book: Memories of Philippine Kitchens by Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, proprietors of Cendrillon restaurant in Manhattan. Blog reviews may be found here and here. When Mom quietly leafed through the book immediately after I gave it to her this morning, I knew I had given a perfect gift. Even Inang, who is in her eighties, seemed to appreciate the book's presentation of dishes she has cooked for us through the years.

As for me, I found that even kutsinta tastes better after just a quick read of Memories, which is part cookbook, part history. The images by Neal Oshima and essays by Besa and Chef Dorotan made me appreciate the hands that create even the humblest of Filipino food and the often hidden artistry behind their creation.

walk gently into the night

In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much- how little- is
Within our power
-Emily Dickenson

She trod softly on the earth.

I hear these words when I think of Raquel Naval, my very first associate who succumbed to cancer last April 30. Raquel managed the Gomburza secretariat from 2003 to 2005. In 2006, after Fr. Robert Reyes left for China to begin his sabbatical, I asked Raquel for assistance in media work for Alyansa Tigil Mina and the CBCP. Later, when we needed a researcher for Dr. Custodio's biography, I again tapped Raquel: since she had finished chemotherapy for breast cancer, I knew the story of one of the country's first medical oncologists would have special meaning for her. This year, when she found out that the cancer had spread, she chose to try an alternative treatment for her cancer, instead of undergoing chemotherapy a second time, even if she qualified for free sessions under an experimental drug program in St. Luke's. She was grateful for whatever sum I could give her, which was almost always in return for small tasks she did for me in her house: I wanted her to feel like an active co-worker, instead of a passive beneficiary, as long as she still had strength and I think she appreciated that. In one of our last meetings in her brother's house in UP, I was blessed with the chance to express my appreciation for her friendship.

Fr. Robert, who knows Raquel more than I do, wrote a short piece in memory of her which I'm sharing here.

Thanks to Himig Heswita for the song in the podcast.

choices

I'm taking a holiday this morning to choose who I'm voting for. I find PDI's tools for voters, especially the podcasts of candidates, helpful- I just wish someone had already tabulated their stand on various issues to make the comparison easier.

To make my search easier, I'm zeroing in on the issue of human rights, particularly due process and equal protection to women, gays and minorities, which I find important. I'm surprised by the results: I'm still adding and dropping candidates based on their level of commitment to these.

The Seminarians' Network (SemNet), an association of 25 major Catholic seminaries in the country is accepting and posting reports on election-related incidents sent through SMS. Text your reports of any election irregularities to:

09167050281 (Globe) or
09286685292 (Smart).

You may also send reports to ABS-CBN: text ireport, name, address, complaint or report and send to 2366. You may send email to

mms@abs-cbn.com or
ireport@abs-cbn.com.

seer's son

I went with Ric and JP to Baler, Aurora for the first time a couple of days ago to interview and shoot sabutan weaver Baby Valenzuela, one of Citibank's Microentrepreneurs of the Year 2006. Baler is the perfect place to have a farm: the rice fields are flanked by the forested Sierra mountains on one side and the Pacific on the other. There's a balance among the elements that uplifts the spirit.

On the way to Baler, I saw posters of the district's congressman, my law classmate and tukayo Sonny. I first saw his picture on a desktop calendar in the UP Department of History when I was still an undergrad. Little did I know at the time that I would be entering law school with him. One evening after graduation, we took a break from bar review. I accompanied Sonny to Megamall to appreciate art that was for sale in galleries on the fourth floor. Neither of us bought anything that night, but I learned a new way to relax and enjoy my time without spending a lot. This is how I choose to remember him.