Brothers with a conscience

Unknown to many, two young Filipino men who grew up in the US have been quietly making a difference in the lives of many children in Parañaque.

The two are the Bañares siblings Brandon, 20 and EJ (Eriberto James), 17, both performing artists under the wing of Performing Artists Center (PAC), a school for aspiring singers and dancers in Los Angeles, California owned and operated by the famous Aldeguer sisters (Terry and Lally). Terry and Lally sparked a dance craze on local television and on the stage in the ‘70s and the ‘80s.

Brandon and EJ have studied and honed their dancing and singing talents at the PAC and have gone on to perform in various concerts, including those headlined by Nora Aunor and Imelda Papin.

In 2006, after a series of exhausting concerts before various Filipino communities in L.A., Brandon and EJ decided to take a breather in their city of roots, Parañaque, where they have relatives but whom they have not seen for quite a while.

While reconnecting with old friends, they got their initial exposure to children, some barely of school age struggling with poverty. They also saw up close boys scavenging garbage, children with cleft palate, as well as differently-abled elderlies unable to walk and those who get along with the aid of crutches or canes.

The two were touched by what they saw and decided to go back to the US where they organized in 2005 Pusong Pinoy USA, a humanitarian outreach project, to raise funds through a series of concerts. With the funds they raised, Brandon and EJ flew back to Parañaque in mid-2006. Their first outreach event was to distribute bags of groceries to some 600 children from the depressed areas of Barangay Tambo. This was arranged in close coordination with the office of Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. who was invited to grace the event and to assist in distributing the goodies.

The siblings, with the help and guidance of their aunt, Ms. Terry Aldeguer, have been periodically shuttling back and forth to Parañaque bringing with them equipment and gadgets including wheelchairs, prosthetic legs for children and adults, and braces for children with cerebral palsy. Brandon and EJ have also underwritten the construction of five open or uncovered basketball courts in various locations in BF Homes to keep the youngsters preoccupied and away from prohibited drugs and petty crimes.

At present, the brothers are sponsoring children with inborn cleft palate for operation. The screening is being undertaken by the in-house doctors of Asian Center for Cosmetic Surgery (a clinic Terry runs at 229 Aguirre Ave. in BF Homes), who will also do the procedure.

Brandon and EJ have also decided to prolong their stay in Parañaque and have enrolled at the Southville International School in BF Homes to earn their nursing diplomas.

“We will continue to raise more funds for our Pusong Pinoy USA project by taking advantage of the school breaks to go back to the US to do more concerts,” Brandon said

Mayor Bernabe is all praises for Brandon and EJ, “I wish we have more Brandons, EJs and Terry Aldeguers in our midst. They truly make a difference in the lives of many people.”

Ilocano food for the taking

Fans of Ilocandia cuisine can now savor and sample the likes of Bagnet, Igado, Dinengdeng, Pinapaitan, Tupeg, Pakbet at I-Republik, an Ilocandia Grill on Tomas Morato cor. Scout Rallos St. in Quezon City.

Open from 7 a.m to 2 a.m. daily, I-Republik has served the likes of Edu Manzano, Pinky Webb, Marian Rivera, Yasmien Kurdi, Vicky Morales, Mariz Umali, Sandra Aguinaldo, Cesar Apolinario and Lei Alviz, among others.

I-Republik is now also offering new crab and goat dishes. The new crab dishes of the resto’s Red Crab group are Crab in Peanut Sauce, Crab Adobo (adobo with aligue); Ginataang Alimango with Langka; and Sinampalukan Crab. There are new goat dishes coming up, such as Kambing Pinapaitan, Adobong Kambing, and Kalderetang Kambing.

The present offerings have already been getting rave reviews, especially from chef and food stylist Aleth Ocampo-Mapa who posted on her Facebook “I personally loved the different versions of bagnet, halaan in cerveza, bangus with tons of crunchy slightly spicy garlic and tupeg is definitely supremo!”

I-Republik accepts catering and deliveries. For details, call 376-2674 or 376-4503.