An unforgettable dinner

Last night I had a memorable dinner with my children and grandchildren at the Makati Greenbelt. What I tasted was unforgettable.

You may later learn about the place – Water Out of Water. That's the name of the eatery. Just beside the Greenbelt Church . Thus, we had the privilege of listening to the chanting of hymns and the noisy sermons of those involved in a liturgical celebration which included blasts against the charismatic movement.

But that's beside the point. The reason I mentioned the eatery was that I tasted a delicious concoction of Bangus belly from General Santos City complete with chorizo. It was spectacular.

Actually, it was Inday (Salvacion) who ordered it for me. And Malou chorused with the former's observation that it was something one could not forego.

I really am not much of a gourmet. But I discovered later that I had virtually eaten the entire dish including the risoto. It was simply delicious.

Grandson Julio ordered the same dish. And ate up the whole serving. The others – including granddaughter Mutya – took some off from my plate.

I just mentioned it because I wish to share a beautiful experience with my readers.

***

Yesterday, we had the election of officers of the executive committee of the communication sub-group of the National Commission on Culture and Arts at the NCCA building.

Almost all of the sitting execom members were reelected. But there were a handful – actually only four – who managed to land berths in the council.

Among those who joined us were PAPI president Johnny Dayang, whose organization got voted in overwhelmingly since PAPI had almost from the very start been a constant partner of the NCCA in promoting Philippine history, arts and the culture.

Johnny immediately asked me to sit down with him and Dr. Zafarea to discuss the possibility of putting up a region-wide seminar for Public Information Officers and media practitioners of Western Visayas to learn more about Ilonggo national hero, Graciano Lopez Jaena.

Actually, the Department of Education plus the National Historical Institute had been mandated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to undertake such a program to popularize the study of Lopez Jaena and his contribution to the rise of Filipinism.

But DepEd, however, has been a bit slow in coming up with the booklets of our national heroes. But NHI, whenever there is any occasion to do so, invariably had been pitching for Lopez Jaena.

NHI executive Director Ludovico Badoy, who comes from the region although he used to be a Mindanao native, has been in the forefront of the Lopez Jaena revival. He and Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez chair of the regional historical and cultural council, have spearheaded the revival of focus in Lopez Jaena.

Watch out for further developments on this project.

I am pinning my hopes on the cooperation of the provincial government and the Bacolod City officials to spark this revival of interest in Lopez Jaena.*

back to top