Bambam Aquino reveals a treasured Aquino recipe
December 25, 2003 | 12:00am
Paolo "Bambam" Benigno Aquino IV may be seen daily on Breakfast, the ABS-CBN early morning show where he dishes out the latest news. At 25, he is also the chairman of National Youth Commission, the youngest head of a national government agency, which is under the Office of the President.
It was a no-brainer that this outspoken kid will some day be involved in politics. His uncle, the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, was a statesman and a national hero, while his aunt, Corazon Aquino, became the first female president of the Philippines following the famed Edsa Revolution in 1986. His aunt, Tessie Aquino Oreta, is a senator, while his uncle, Agapito ‘Butz’ Aquino, is a congressman. Cousin Noynoy Aquino is in Congress, too.
Some people might remember Bambam way back in 1983 after his uncle Ninoy was assassinated. Those were troubling times after Ninoy’s death. The people were hungry for news, and one way for the opposition to awaken the people’s consciousness was to hold public meetings around the country where members of Ninoy’s family gave speeches.
Bambam was the youngest Aquino family member to go around the country and give speeches. Barely six years old then, he had to give his first speech at a children’s rally in Biñan, Laguna, after most of the members of his father’s family could not make it to the meeting because Ballsy, Ninoy’s eldest daughter, was getting married that day at Hacienda Luisita.
It was not difficult getting the young Bambam to speak before a crowd. In fact, his parents were more nervous than him. When he got on stage, he lowered the microphone and spoke without a tinge of shyness or nervousness. His speech was so effortless that he soon became in demand among the Aquinos to speak at meetings around the country, although he was then still studying at Ateneo de Manila.
He later pursued management engineering at the Ateneo, graduating summa cum laude and even serving as the university’s student council president.
Aside from his hosting duties and his posting at the National Youth Commission, Bambam still finds time to be a spokesperson for Children’s Hour, a foundation devoted to children’s causes, which is headed by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. He also endorses the "Read to Lead" campaign, a campaign against illiteracy.
When he finds time to relax, he bakes a super duper sarap food for the gods. He says his recipe for food of the gods is already 25 years old and comes from famed cook Maur Aquino Lichauco, the eldest among the Aquino siblings. His Tita Maur is a famous cook and baker, and he reveals this treasured family secret with Philippine STAR readers as a Christmas gift. After all, Christmas is the season of giving.
If you do want to try Bambam’s recipes at home, the food for the gods and the double chocolate crumble bars the Aquinos make are best given away as Christmas gifts. A word of caution, though: They are sinfully delicious.
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 Tbsps. honey
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup walnuts
Mix the white sugar, brown sugar and butter. Do not overbeat. Add the eggs one at a time. Then, add the honey. On a sheet of wax paper, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the walnuts and the dates into the flour mixture.
Mix the flour and butter mixtures. Cut and fold until the flour is thoroughly mixed.
Bake for 20-30 minutes in an oven at 350°F. When cool, cut into squares.
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten well after each addition
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tbsps. cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
For the topping:
6 Tbsps. cocoa
2 Tbsps. butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup rice krispies
Cream 1/2 cup butter. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add the flour, chopped walnuts, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda.
Spread the mixture in an 8x12 lined pan. Bake it for 20 minutes at 350°F. When done, remove from the oven and cover with tiny marshmallows and bake for another 5 minutes. Cool.
For the topping, cream all the ingredients. Add half the rice krispies. Spread on the cooled cake. Sprinkle the remaining rice krispies over the topping. Chill before cutting.
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Feedback and suggestions are welcome. E-mail starkitchenspy@yahoo.com.
It was a no-brainer that this outspoken kid will some day be involved in politics. His uncle, the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, was a statesman and a national hero, while his aunt, Corazon Aquino, became the first female president of the Philippines following the famed Edsa Revolution in 1986. His aunt, Tessie Aquino Oreta, is a senator, while his uncle, Agapito ‘Butz’ Aquino, is a congressman. Cousin Noynoy Aquino is in Congress, too.
Some people might remember Bambam way back in 1983 after his uncle Ninoy was assassinated. Those were troubling times after Ninoy’s death. The people were hungry for news, and one way for the opposition to awaken the people’s consciousness was to hold public meetings around the country where members of Ninoy’s family gave speeches.
Bambam was the youngest Aquino family member to go around the country and give speeches. Barely six years old then, he had to give his first speech at a children’s rally in Biñan, Laguna, after most of the members of his father’s family could not make it to the meeting because Ballsy, Ninoy’s eldest daughter, was getting married that day at Hacienda Luisita.
It was not difficult getting the young Bambam to speak before a crowd. In fact, his parents were more nervous than him. When he got on stage, he lowered the microphone and spoke without a tinge of shyness or nervousness. His speech was so effortless that he soon became in demand among the Aquinos to speak at meetings around the country, although he was then still studying at Ateneo de Manila.
He later pursued management engineering at the Ateneo, graduating summa cum laude and even serving as the university’s student council president.
Aside from his hosting duties and his posting at the National Youth Commission, Bambam still finds time to be a spokesperson for Children’s Hour, a foundation devoted to children’s causes, which is headed by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. He also endorses the "Read to Lead" campaign, a campaign against illiteracy.
When he finds time to relax, he bakes a super duper sarap food for the gods. He says his recipe for food of the gods is already 25 years old and comes from famed cook Maur Aquino Lichauco, the eldest among the Aquino siblings. His Tita Maur is a famous cook and baker, and he reveals this treasured family secret with Philippine STAR readers as a Christmas gift. After all, Christmas is the season of giving.
If you do want to try Bambam’s recipes at home, the food for the gods and the double chocolate crumble bars the Aquinos make are best given away as Christmas gifts. A word of caution, though: They are sinfully delicious.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 Tbsps. honey
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup walnuts
Mix the white sugar, brown sugar and butter. Do not overbeat. Add the eggs one at a time. Then, add the honey. On a sheet of wax paper, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the walnuts and the dates into the flour mixture.
Mix the flour and butter mixtures. Cut and fold until the flour is thoroughly mixed.
Bake for 20-30 minutes in an oven at 350°F. When cool, cut into squares.
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten well after each addition
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tbsps. cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
For the topping:
6 Tbsps. cocoa
2 Tbsps. butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup rice krispies
Cream 1/2 cup butter. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add the flour, chopped walnuts, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda.
Spread the mixture in an 8x12 lined pan. Bake it for 20 minutes at 350°F. When done, remove from the oven and cover with tiny marshmallows and bake for another 5 minutes. Cool.
For the topping, cream all the ingredients. Add half the rice krispies. Spread on the cooled cake. Sprinkle the remaining rice krispies over the topping. Chill before cutting.
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