A Journey with Children Book Launch

Finally after 6 months, "A Journey with Children (Living and Working in the Streets in the Philippines)" has been published! It was a privilege to be one of the authors of this coffee-table photobook, assisting Italian photographer Giacomo Pirozzi. The project was under UNICEF Philippines and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

The launch was extra special and done with highest honor at the Malacanan Palace, with no less than President Benigno Aquino III present to accept the photobook from Lalaine Loreto, 11 years old, of Nayon ng Kabataan.

The launch coincided with the awarding ceremonies of the 2011 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities, which is a regular affair every October to commemorate the Children's Month. UNICEF Country Representative Ms. Vanessa Tobin (leftmost) also received a plaque from DSWD for her unending commitment to help children in the Philippines.

It was so nice to see  some of the children who were featured in the photobook, and of course Giacomo, Mareen, Jonas, Tito Jess Far and all those who worked in the project. The Council for the Welfare of Children and its pool of young facilitators very wisely gathered the children one Saturday prior to the event and showed them the printed book. After seeing it, they drafted a response and a call to action for President Aquino, which was presented to the audience by Lalaine.

Needless to say, the event was also a reunion of so many different organizations working on the advocacy of children's rights. Here we are doing our best to be formal during the cocktails.

These are the young facilitators from CWC who served as ushers during the event. They are (left to right) Rafael Coste, Alexander Macatual, Shane Manopol and Carlo Jagnaan;  and with them are the very young looking (LOL) Ate Ros and Kuya Rex Dayao and Ate Andre Canilang. We all belong to different child-rights organizations who participated/organized in the Philippine National Children's Conference in 2009 and ASEAN Children's Forum in 2010.

And of course, I'm happy because Momon was there to support me. Pinabilib ko lang naman s'ya. Hahaha!

Here we are with the event host, 2010 Ms. Universe 4th runner-up Venus Raj. My goodness, she is a goddess! I'm such a fan, especially now that I know she has an interest in children's rights.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador--and my super fave singer--Gary Valenciano was also at the event! I was tasked on the spot to introduce him to to all the children who were part of the book. Lucky I have good memory and I was able to remember all the children's names, ages and locations, and give a brief background about their story.

During the introductions, Joshua, who is 11, from Lingap Pangkabataan said, "Ate, kamukha n'ya yung nagsasayaw sa TV" (He looks like that man who dances on TV). I responded, "S'ya yun! (That's him!). 

And Gary said, "Ako yun, yung sa ASAP." (That's me, from ASAP.) Then he dance very discreetly on the spot.

Here I am with Giacomo. Congratulations Giacomo!
May you continue to inspire more people through the children's stories you capture in your photos.

Oh, what an honor to be part of the book. It was a wonderful journey with children.
Please visit www.ajourneywithchildren.com to know more about the photobook.

Sinfully at Makati Shangri-la

Indulge in top quality chocolate confections at Makati Shangri-la’s Sinfully at Greenbelt 5.

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Chocolate: the perfect epitome of sinful goodness.

It is perfection in every bite, a sweet heaven, and the nectar of the gods. What else can be described with such adoration than chocolate? It is so irresistible in any form—be it milk, dark, white or bitter, it is a confection loved by all. 

Discovered 2000 years ago in South America, chocolate is processed so many ways, leaving it open for creative interpretation and limited only by the pastry chef’s imagination. But in the end, it’s all the same: it is the creamy and sweet chocolate that lures us to indulge in sinful pleasures each time.

Indulge in Sinful Pleasures

There may be no better place to flirt with your chocolate temptation than at Makati Shangri-La's Sinfully. The Lifestyle Network and www.cookeatnow.com were privileged to be part of their press launch.

Area Executive Pastry Chef of Makati Shangri-La Anthony Collar knows chocolate. "Chocolate is a living organism, it’s alive. It is best consumed when it has been left for an hour sitting at 21°C to 22°C (around the same temperature as an air-conditioned room). Coco butter melts at 31°, and your body is 36°," shared Chef Collar.

“Eating chocolate is just like drinking wine--it must be enjoyed and felt by our different senses. Place the chocolate in the middle of your mouth. Don't bite into it! Just before it melts, take a deep breath and fill your nostrils and lungs with its rich aroma. Be patient and let your mouth do the work, soon it will melt and fill your mouth with a sensational taste.”

A study reported by BBC indicates “melting chocolate in one's mouth produces an increase in brain activity and heart rate that is more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity has ended.”

But Chef Collar’s creations are not only about sinful indulgence. “We also want to show that chocolate is not all bad. There are a lot of potential health benefits to eating chocolote. Cocoa and dark chocolate has a lot of antioxidants, and eating controlled amounts can help prevent heart disease. It’s just a matter of controlling your portions.”
Sinfully at Greenbelt 5

Sinfully is the Makati Shangri-la’s first offsite patisserie. It is located at the second floor of Greenbelt 5.



Sinful Attractions

A unique feature of the patisserie is the Chocolate Room. This glassed-off and temperature-controlled area, visible from the storefront, is a magnet for shoppers. From here, you can watch the pastry chefs create Sinfully’s signature pralines and cakes.

 Sinfully’s signature product, the Kiss.

This work of art is made from the finest chocolate with a glossy candy-coated veneer. The kisses come in three flavors of chocolate with star anise, raspberry, and amaretto and coffee. There is a reason why this is the signature product. My descriptions would definitely fail against actually tasting the Kiss.

Emoti-Cakes

A touch screen ordering system allows you to access the world of personalized Emoti-Cakes, inspired by the emoticons and elevated to a delicious layered chocolate cake or cheesecake covered in fondant. Momon and I were able to sample the two kinds of cakes. They were the best--as in the best--chocolate and cheesecakes we've ever tasted!

Macaroons? Macarons?

Aren't these simply divine? They look too pretty too eat, but it would be a sin not to try them. They are a mix crunchy and chewy on the outside and super lovely creminess on the inside. The flavors were superb, we had to ask the servers to leave us alone, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to stop ourselves! Flavors are available in green tea, purple yam (ube), mango, strawberry, blueberry, coffee, chocolate and so many more!

 Wow! Need I say more?

Various bread and bakery items are also available at Sinfully—like the cookies, traditional baguettes, Danish pastries and muffins, and some more adventurous jam flavors like Mango and White Chocolate. There are also made-to-order cakes which you can fashion to almost any object you wish.

Visit Sinfully by Makati Shangri-La at the 2nd floor or Greenbelt 5 in Makati City. It promises to be the ultimate definition of decadence and delight in Makati City–a rare find for those in search of sweet indulgence and true luxury.  For inquiries and orders, please call (63 2) 729 6626 or e-mail sinfully.slm@shangri-la.com.

The Master of Modern Chinese Cuisine

It was June 2011 when Hanna assigned me to cover a cooking demonstration featuring Master Chef Sam Leong of Singapore. I must say I am not familiar with Chef Sam, but this is obviously because of my lack of knowledge about the culinary gods of Asia. Both Hanna and I were floored upon reading his profile and even more enthralled after meeting him at Shangri-la Makati. Here is the piece I wrote for www.cookeatnow.com.

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THE MASTER OF MODERN CHINESE CUISINE

The list of awards and recognition for Singapore’s Master Chef Sam Leong goes on and on.

He was Singapore’s representative to the Annual James Beard Foundation Awards, Friends of James Beard Gala Dinner, World Gourmet Summit, Annual St. Moritz Gourmet Festival, the Flavours of Asia in Napa Valley, California and many others.

He has had the privilege to be the official chef for the visits to Singapore of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej of Thailand.

He was also named the Best Asian Ethnic Chef of the Year at the World Gourmet Summit Awards of Excellence in 2001, 2002 and 2004, and Executive Chef of the Year and Chef of the Year in 2005. In the same year, he became the first Singaporean chef to join Singapore Airline’s International Culinary Panel of world-renowned chefs.

If all these awards and recognition are making you dizzy, know that Chef Sam Leong worked his way to the top the hard way. His signature technique of infusing traditional Chinese cuisine with a modern flare was not an overnight success.

A Journey with Children

For the past one and half months, I've been going around the streets of Manila, Baguio, Olongapo, Davao and Zamboanga to search for stories of children living and working in the streets. I was contracted by UNICEF Philippines to be the writer and assistant to Italian photographer Giacomo Pirozzi on his latest photobook, which focuses on the street children of our country. Giacomo also visited Cebu and Cotabato for this assignment.

The product of 6 weeks of shooting, is a 256-page photobook featuring the lives of forty-six (46) children. Each story opens with a quote from the child and centers on his/her life story. Through their lives, we cover almost all of the issues related to a child. We have stories from as simple as  teenage love, fashion and self expression to as complex as health, human rights violations, physical abuse, trafficking, sex work, migration, discrimation and so many more. 

The book will be launched in October 2011.

My Journey

The addage that says, "You never truly appreciate what you have until you see what others do not have." or something like this, couldn't have been more apt for my experiences while making this book. Last Friday, typhoon Falcon brought in so many rains, and caused some water to seep into our new home. At first, I was so pissed at the incident and worried about the possible damage. But I remembered this eleven-year-old boy, Amsani, who lives in a pedicab in Baclaran, Pasay City. When it rains, he has to move under the awnings of fastfood restaurants just to keep dry. He has three puppies that he has to sell just so he and his family can rent a house for a month, even just for the rainy season. I've always known that there are children like Amsani. But now, I have someone specific to worry about.

This project has also tested my interviewing and people skills. I had to get people to warm up to me in a short span of time, and hopefully get some very insightful quotes about their difficult lives. I have proven that contrary to how we always think about street children--rowdy, drug users, dirty, uneducated--they still can be kind and respectful. Yes, they lack skills on how to read, they haven't taken a bath, they've worked day and night, and have seen and experienced more violence than most people, but bottomline, THEY ARE STILL CHILDREN. 

Also, Giacomo's analysis of the different situations we encountered has shown me a different perspective. It is so often that we get used to certain situations in our country that we just accept it as is. His insights helped me realize that we still need to question things and make some changes even for things that seem to work.

I am sure that this book will go beyond being a material to raise funds and spread awareness. As early as now both UNICEF's country representative and DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman have expressed that we need to follow-up on all 46 children and ensure that they have better lives. Even just for this, I believe that the book has succeeded.

Travelling with Food through Spices and Herbs

Assigned to attend a cooking class by www.cookeatnow.com. Syempre, go!

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Transform a simple chicken breast to something spectacular with flavors from Thailand, India and Morocco

Picture this: A spice rack filled with different spices, a bin with different herbs and a home cook who doesn’t know what to do with any of them. Is this you in your kitchen?

Don’t sweat--we’re all guilty at one point or another. We buy herbs and spices out of curiosity or to follow a new recipe, but once done, we just let the herbs wilt and the spices end up as decorations. The average Filipino home cook is not really adept with using herbs and spices. Afterall, the Filipino dishes only require the usual salt, pepper, and some dried bay leaf. Occasionally, we may come across a spicy variety that requires a little chili, but nothing else.

Stephanie Zubiri, executive chef of The Modern Epicurean Kitchen (MEK), believes we can do better. “The correct use of spices can transform any dish. Spices and herbs allow you to get creative, to change a simple chicken breast to something spectacular.”

Taste with Confidence: Wine Tasting for Beginners

The second of the two articles I wrote on wines.

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TASTE WITH CONFIDENCE: WINE TASTING FOR BEGINNERS
Conquer your fear of tasting wine with easy-to-follow tips from Filipina winemaker Tondi Bolkan of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

“There is no right or wrong when tasting wine. Just be open and trust your own opinion. The person’s palate is the final answer.” A neophyte wine taster cannot ask for more comforting words. This is how Tondi Bolkan, a Filipina associate winemaker of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery (FFCW) in California, welcomed her guests in a wine tasting event held last January to showcase her own wine concoctions.

Admittedly, wine tasting is still a relatively new concept for Filipinos. Most people choose not to attend a tasting out of fear or not knowing what to do. But what is a better way to start exploring wine than with blends specifically created for the Filipino palate.

Six different wines vintaged in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California from Allejos Cellars and FFCW were uncorked for tasting, including the former’s Pinay Muscato (white), Tondi Bolkan Merlot (red) and Pinay Pastel (port-style wine).

Cast your fear aside and apply these easy-to-follow tips from Tondi:

Uncorking the Pinay

For the next two pieces, Hanna assigned me to cover a wine-tasting event at Pacific Place, Ortigas featuring Filipina winemaker, Tondi Navarrete-Bolkan. This is my first wine tasting ever! Who am I to talk about wines, or even write how I think of them and how to enjoy them? I had to do a lot of research for my questions to be on-point. Thanks to Tondi and her family for being so hospitable.

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Uncorking the Pinay
Meet Tondi Navarrete-Bolkan, a Filipina winemaker from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery whose mission is to uncork the Filipino’s love for wine.

Lechon, pansit, cheese, crackers and cold cuts; a serenade of love songs; friends and family abound—a classic picture of a Filipino get-together. In this feast, the centerpiece are six fine wines vintaged in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California by Tondi Navarrete-Bolkan, a Filipina associate winemaker of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and part-owner of Alejos Cellars.

The gathering is a wine tasting for Tondi’s wine creations which includes the Pinay Muscato (white), Tondi Bolkan Merlot (red) and Pinay Pastel (port-style wine), flagship wines of the Alejos Cellars; and Francis Ford Coppola Winery concoctions including Coppola’s Diamond Series Claret (red), Su Yuen (Riesling) and Sofia (a sparkling wine named after Sofia Coppola).

“My mom is my inspiration for the Pinay. I was mortified to see her drinking the Rubicon, a 145-dollar bottle of wine, and topping it with Maraschino cherries to adjust its sweetness. I promised her I’d make her a sweet wine.”

With a degree on Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from UC Davis California, Tondi initially planned to take up medicine to follow her father and sister’s path. “During my senior year in college, I had my internship at the University Medical Center. Once I saw blood, I immediately passed out.” Luckily UC Davis is also known for viniculture and grape growing. She turned to her true passion and studied winemaking, and since 2001 has been working at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Napa Valley known as the Rubicon Estate.

“My family was surprised because they wanted me to be a doctor. They did not speak to me from September to November—my first harvest season. After the holidays, I sent them a case of my first wine, and they knew they have a winemaker in the family.”

Chef Melissa Sison: Setting the Standard for Our Future Chefs

Second article for www.cookeatnow.com.
For this one, Hanna assigned me to write about Chef Melissa Sison. I had to do a phone interview with her, something I haven't done for a long time. I was initially nervous, but Chef Melissa is very pleasant and our interview went very smoothly. Trivia: Chef Melissa and I were "batchmates" in Batanes, but we were never introduced. At least it's nice to know the face behind the voice. :-)

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Chef Melissa Sison: Setting the Standard for Our Future Chefs

Fourteen years since its foundation, the Center for Culinary Arts-Manila (CCA-Manila) still holds the distinction of producing the most promising chefs of the country. Over the past year, they have instituted curriculum and operational changes to forge a well-defined CCA standard that will stand out further than the rest.

Academics Program Manager, Chef Melissa Sison, spearheads these changes. “At CCA, we aim to produce not just skilled chefs but future culinary leaders and entrepreneurs. They carry the CCA name, and much is expected of them.”

A graduate of SHA Ecole Des Roches in Switzerland, Chef Melissa considers herself an entrepreneur at heart. With her experience in owning her own restaurant, My Little Kitchen, and as Executive Chef for research and development for Oyster Boy, she applied her experience and ability to lead the Center to a whole new level.

“Before, I have observed that the graduates’ loyalty was to their chef-instructors. I suppose it’s only natural. When you train under a chef, you really pick up their best habits. But what we want is loyalty to CCA, expressed in a standard that each graduate will bring wherever he/she goes.”

A Passion for Creative Baking: Artisan Breads

My first article for www.cookeatnow.com is already out!
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A Passion for Creative Baking: Artisan Breads
“It is fulfilling to come up with specialty breads exclusive to client needs. It is in itself a creative process.”

Photos from www.artisanbreads.multiply.com

They say a true Filipino meal is never complete without rice. Not for Leslie Rabat, proprietor of Artisan Breads by Pan Italiano. For her, bread is more than a convenient substitute to rice. It is a universal food, which can be a satisfying and a healthy option for any meal.

Truth be told, Filipinos love bread more than they admit. Each time the price of flour or sugar rises; consumers are worried that the taste or size of their trusty bread products will be affected. The wide range of bread products in any Filipino bakery—pan de sal, monay, putok, Spanish bread, kabayan—are all testaments to the Pinoy’s love for bread.

KNN is a FINALIST IN 11th PHILIPPINE WEB AWARDS!

WE'RE a FINALIST IN 11th PHILIPPINE WEB AWARDS!

Hey Kabataan! Thanks to all your votes and support, KNN is now officially a finalist in the 11th Philippine Web Awards! From 10 semifinalists, the list has been narrowed down to 5, keeping us in the running for Best Web Site in the Entertainment Category.

Please continue to vote using the following channels:

To vote VIA TEXT, type:
WEBBYS VOTE 61

Send to the following numbers:
2973 for Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers
2955 for Smart and Talk and Text subscribers

To vote online:
Register here. Click on to vote for a site at the Member's Lounge page. Online voting is Free!

SMS and online voting will run until 11:59 PM of February 26, 2009. The entry that receives the most number of votes in its group will win the Peoples Choice Award for that category.

The complete list of the 2008 finalists can now be viewed in the official PWA site in the Member's Lounge of www.philippinewebawards.com.

VOTE NOW!

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Due to some crazy circumstances, Ate Yas, Tita Nancy and I had tickets to go to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam! Fully paid by the company, with allowance pa. Shopping money na lang ang kulang!

Delicious Vietnamese Pho

Vietnamese coffee with Sweet Milk

Splurging at a Vietnamese store

For a change, we had no meetings and workshops to supervise. We busied ourselves with shopping! Ang term namin, "Nagwala kami!" We gave our arms an exercise with the big bags we had to carry around. We also developed an expertise talking to Veitnamese vendors.

New words/pronunciations in our shopping vocabulary:
XL - Ek Ewl; XXL - Ek Ek Ewl
Size - Zay
Tape Measure - Met
Box - Bok
Bill - Biw

Ros: Give us discount!
Vendor: Can not!
Ros: Can!

St. Catherine Cathedral

Dinner with Ate Judith and family

We will go back on March for the actual IOM Closing Workshop. For sure, babalik din kami sa mga shops!
I'll chronicle my purchases in my next entry.

Daang Hari, Navotas

Visited the community of Daang Hari otherwise known as Houses on Stilts.
I hope the pictures tell the story.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Just came back from Chiang Rai, Thailand for the IOM 2007 Opening Workshop.

I met so many people who are experts in their craft, and are so generous with their wealth of knowledge! I assisted in workshops by Howie Severino, Dominic Sansoni and Jeremiah Foo. Imagine, getting paid to sit in lectures like these!

Filipino documentary-maker Howie Severino gave a lecture on media ethics and covering international stories. Interestingly, Howie's parents met in Lao while they were doing diplomatic work. And when Howie was growing up, his parent's would speak in Lao whenever they don't want him to understand. So, Howie could understand some of the words from the Lao fellows.


We also met Dominic Sansoni from Sri Lanka. He's a photographer whose photos have been covers of TIME Magazine and the like. He's traveled the world and has magnificent photos that will leave you wide-eyed! Being a neophyte photographer, he allowed me to copy a DVD of vignettes about esteemed photographers discussing their contact prints. He also was appluaded my choice of camera with my Nikon D40 and made some changes in the settings for me. Lessons, free of charge!

Another interesting person I met during the workshop is Jeremiah Foo. He's a Malaysian who pioneered web and podcasting in Asia. Since Malaysia does not have absolute freedom of speech, he has extensively used new media to broadcast his work. I was so thrilled with his lecture and the amazing gadgets he brings around. Imagine, he has an HD video camera the size of what we use in KNN! Gusto ko na tuloy mag-masters ng convergent media!

Actually, I've met so many more great minds. People who are committed to causes and have made it their life's work to uphold advocacies. The kind of people who can speak more than 3 languages fluently, and hold gravity in their words. I wish to be like them someday.

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Now, for some photos...

I also joined a field trip to the Akha Village. A close-counterpart of the Ifugaos. They also live near the mountains but have experienced being displaced due to land conflict. They are fighting to keep their heritage alive.

En route to the Akha Village. Ang saya ng mountain, may sariling stripe.

A girl from the Akha village, selling their woven crafts.

It's been a year since I've been working on this project, and finally I get to see the infamous Mekong River that connects all 6 countries of the rightfully named Mekong Region. I also felt its power to connect all the countries when we went to the Golden Triangle, an area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma meet.

Fishing in the Mekong River at Dusk

So, just by crossing the river, we were able to go to Laos. We stayed their for an hour and crossed the river again to go back to Thailand.

Beach! with IOM 2007 Fellows

After two weeks of lectures and field production, we took the Mekong fellows to the beach. We went to La Luz Beach Resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. This is an especially precious experience for them, since living in a landlocked country, many have not yet even seen, let alone swam in the sea.

The beach was not very comfortable, though. There were many sharp boulders and rocks. The sand was not fine, and hurts it when you walk. We also played volleyball, but couldn't make the most of it because the sand was blistering hot and rough. However, the beautiful and colorful fish swimming near the shore more than made up for this. You don't need to go very far from the shore to see schools of fishes feeding from corals. Inexperienced swimmers won't have a hard time too, because large boulders can serve as anchors and rest areas.

Beachfront

Lolo Phet from Laos

Towards the end of the day, most of our group had a massages in the cabanas by the beach. And just before leaving, I led a relaxing stretching session. There's really nothing compared to the fresh sea air, and the sound of waves crashing on the rocks in the distance. Whew!

We capped the night with a bulalo dinner at Rose and Grace's restaurant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Yummy!

By the end of the day, our backs were burned, our feet were slashed in different small places, tired from the long trip back to the city, but our hearts are filled with sweet memories of the sea. Till next year!

Manila... Manila

Just want to share some images from our Manila Tour with the IOM 2007 Fellows.
Feeling turista din ako. Practicing my photography.

Rizal Monument

San Agustin Church, Intramuros

Bahay Nakpil, Quiapo


San Sebastian Church, Quiapo

Gawad Plaridel

UP CMC awarded the Gawad Plaridel to Cheche Lazaro last July 4, 2007.
Just some pictures...

Probe TV

Hi guys!
Please check out www.probetv.com

You can watch even the episodes of The Probe Team from way back. All the award-winning episodes will be there. You can also view the segments from 5 and Up, Art-Is-Kool, Gameplan and of course, Kabataan X-Press!

This is out version of YouTube. You can also join groups, upload your own videos, and meet new people. I'll regularly upload videos of Kabataan X-Press here para naman makapanood kayo.

Trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia! The home of Angkor Wat!
Hay... it was so nice to see the fellows again. Not to mention the many gifts I received from their native countries of Laos, China, Burma and everywhere else!


Syempre, nagpa-star na naman ang mga Pinoy!
Here we are at the Blue Pumpkin Restaurant: Kuya Jay, Bem, Tita Nancy, Johanna, Ate Rin, Ate Josie, Me and Xin (Chinese translator).


Of course, in front of City Angkor Hotel, in our Dreamgirls personas.


More pictures to come: Apsara dancing and Angkor Wat tour.