Mommy's Little Helper

Throughout Patty's food relief operations, Bela was her trusty sous chef.

Bela helped prepare the ingredients ...

... taste Mommy's concoctions ...

... measure the portions ...

... and pack the boxes.

 

Good job, Belly!

Gabi Learns to Share

We brought Gabi with us last night to help distribute the cooked food packs Patty had prepared for typhoon victims. It was a spur of the moment decision. We thought it would help make Gabi understand the gravity of the calamity. We also hoped that the experience would make him value the importance of sharing. And thus make him stop grabbing Bela's toys from her and start sharing his toys with her.

So off to Marikina we went. To the Malanday Elementary School which was now an evacuation center for more than 300 families. Last week there were more than 1,000 families there. But most of them were already sent home. Those who remained had no more houses to go home to.

Gabi patiently gave out the food packs in each of over forty classrooms in the school. And he chose to give his packs to the kids. Many his age. Many more much younger.

Gabi went about his task enthusiastically. It was obvious that he felt good about what he was doing. And that he was having fun.

After an hour and a half, after all 300 or so food packs had been given away, I pulled Gabi aside and asked: "So, Gabi, what have you learned tonight?"

"I learned that it's important to give," he started. "And that it's important to share."

"And how do you feel now?" I asked, already convinced that Patty and I made the right decision to bring him along.

"I am a little sad, Papa."

"Why, Gabi?"

"Because we didn't bring toys," he reasoned out. "Can we come back tomorrow to bring them toys? I want to share toys with them."

"Sure, Gabi," I was so proud of my four year old son. "Why don't you put together some of your old toys and we'll bring them here tomorrow."

"No, Papa! Not my toys... I want to share Bela's toys with them!"

That's the Spirit!

Here's the video of  childhood friend, Luis Cuervo, wading through waist-deep water in Rosario, Pasig during the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. Despite the obvious discomfort and hardship, Luis remains optimistic and even cheerful.

Luis was one of our kuyas in the old Kulyawan Boys Club. He was one of the older ones. The ones who always lorded it over us younger ones in football. The ones who always made fun of us younger ones during summer camps. Okay, Luis was one of the bullies.

Luis always had a great outlook in life. He was always smiling. And laughing. And always had practical jokes up his sleeves.

In his Facebook profile, Luis describes himself as "a Londoner with an American brain, a Spanish heart and a Chinese stomach ... hence, a PINOY!" Luis is a proud and loving father of eight. And he's a colon cancer survivor too. I guess that helps explain his positive attitude towards life.

And just where was Luis going that fateful 27 September morning? He was on his way to San Juan from Antipolo to attend his mother's 80th birthday.

Bravo, Luis! Thanks for showing all of us that come hell or high water,  kayang kaya pa rin natin ito! 

Mission Accomplished

Patty and her staff finished cooking and packing at 8:00 pm, a good twelve hours after they started. We then brought the food packs to the Mega Tent Relief Center in Ortigas.

Thanks to Teri, Jacq, Christine and Elias for a whole day of cooking and packing; to Miguel for lending his kitchen, to Maman for lending her pots and pans; to Therese, Rocio, Luis, Beeto and Gabi for lending a hand; to Maman, Mommy, Monica and Carla for their kind donations; and to Bela for being patient with babysitter Papa.

Cooking Up a Storm

Patty is on a mission. She wants to help Ondoy victims by doing what she does -- and loves -- best: cooking!

She went to the market early this morning and with the generous help of family and friends, bought supplies good enough for an army: 25 kilos of meat, potato, 200 bananas, 12 trays of egg, sack of rice, etc.

She borrowed extra pots and pans from her lola and then commandeered not only her kitchen but also that of my brother Miguel to achieve her goal of preparing and packing no less than two hundred ready to eat meals by this afternoon.

Her menu: adobo, torta, hard-boiled egg, saba and rice.

"Isn't that a bit too much for relief goods?" someone made the mistake of asking her. "Wouldn't sardines and instant noodles be enough?"

"I don't like," was Patty's curt reply. "If you're going to do something, might as well do it well."

Atta girl, Patty. That's why I love you so. And I love your cooking too!