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!