Finding the Filipino heart

Margaretha "Peggy" Matheson writes from Osteraas, Norway, about experiencing "the Filipino heart many times when I lived in the Philippines and every time I come ‘home’ for a visit. Even though I was born in Norway amd grew up there, I’m really a Filipina claiming to be a Norwegian. I am proud to call the Philippines my adopted homeland. Last year I went to Barangay in Roxas city in the island of Olotajan, a 20- minute banca ride from the city. On that first visit, during the fiesta, the people made be feel welcome. Since many of the people there are unemployed, I decided to help them in the form of a livelihood project–a fishing boat.My second visit was a memorable one as I turned over the boat and have never seen so many smiles in my whole life and ever gotten so many hugs. They gave me a gift,which truly came from their hearts–a beautiful big shell which somebody dived for . It was handcarried back to Norway and everytime I look at it, I think of all my friends in Olotajan. From the innermost corner of my heart I can truly say to my friends in Olotajan, I love you all!" That is one very touching gesture from a lady with a very caring heart. As a tribute to her the boat was named "Lady Peggy". In our mind, we now see the fishermen of Olotajan smiling, catching fish and making a living.

The Metro (department store and supermarket) in Market!Market! at The Fort has some weird policies. Shortly after 10 a.m. one morning, we were allowed in by two security guards (one male and one female). From all indications, the store was open for business, with cashiers in place who accepted payment for our single purchase. As we made our exit at about 10:40 a.m., we were stopped by the same guards who would not allow us to leave because their opening time was 11 a.m.! We found this strange for why did they allow us in in the first place? As we tried to convince them to let us out, a crowd of early morning shoppers gathered behind us, each one complaining, asking what was the logic behind allowing shoppers to get in, make purchases and then keep them like prisoners until 11 a.m.! We asked for the supervisor, security head or store manager, but no one came. Can the Metro management perhaps explain?

Price watch. A bunch of kangkong now costs P7, a P2 increase. Squid is selling at P160 a kilo. LPG gas has gone up from P395 to P410 a tank. At the Zapote market which has recently undergone some cleaning up (there are still some wet areas) and structural change (there is now a two-storey building), pork sells at P140 a kilo with beef at P180. Chicken is sold at P95 a kilo while the price of seafood fluctuates everyday. Mangosteen is again prohibitive at P200 a kilo and mangoes have gone up to P70. The price of native (Ilocos) garlic also jumped to P120 a kilo.

Edwin who has a vegetable and fruit stall at Market!Market! told us there are about 100 varieties of tomatoes. He convinced us to get at least two pieces of what he calls Momorato from Japan. They are shaped like peaches and are good to eat fresh, such as with fried meat or fish. We must say they taste good. P60 a kilo. Another variety is the ox heart, which as its name suggests is shaped as such. He also sells cherry tomatoes, except that they look like tiny bowling balls and are yellow instead of red.

We recently met another budding pastry chef, eight-year-old Javy Martinez who had become adept at using the mixing bowl, measuring ingredients and regulating the oven at his mother’s (Gina Martinez) kitchen in BF Homes. His masterpiece, so far, is peanut butter cookies which are soft and chewy. That’s really starting early. Gina on the other hand produces the most mouth-watering Lemon Torte in the city. It is made of five layers of lemon-flavored wafers, placed alternately with generous filling of lemon cream and crushed walnuts in between. The icing is made of stabilized cream.

We’ve had some inquiries about how a standard condo unit can be made more efficient. Normally space is limited and most often occupants are either newly-weds or singles busy at work during the day. The basic appliances one needs are a moderately-sized stove with oven, a meduim-sized refrigerator, a meduim-size microwave oven. Marketing should be planned carefully, so storage will not be a problem. Cook food that are quick and easy to prepare, specially if your help is not an expert. Also bear in mind that among the neighbors might be those averse to some peculiarly offending smell, such as bagoong.

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