Archive for April 2009

My Maundy Thursday's ritual is doing the Visita Iglesia during Holy Week. My car packed with extra shirts & towels, candies & a big jug of ice cold drink while we go around to visit seven churches around the neighboring villages where I live. Of course the ritual was broken when I moved to France. I continue it by doing the Way of the Cross in the barrio's church.

And today is Maundy Thursday & I don't think I can do seven churches here so when I saw that our barrio's church is closed for repairs, there is little time today to be exploring some old churches in the region of Grasse. I opted for a small chapel near the center. Of course I didn't find it & my parking timer is only for an hour 12 minutes. All I see is the bell tower of the Cathedrale de Grasse. I thought what a nice way to do the Stations in a nice, centuries old Cathedral like the Notre Dame de Puy, of the XII century? After 20 minutes of looking for that chapel, I marched to the center of Grasse, the bell tower as my guide.

On my way to do what I'm supposed to do, I bump into the Musée International de la Parfumerie with its beautiful building facade, then the museums of Fragonard, and down the smallest pedestrian streets I've ever seen yet, animated with colorful shops so typical old French towns. The shops are likewise interesting. There was one maker of troll statues, or creatures you'll find in video games. Then there was one art shop who exhibits art made of batteries, cellfone covers, pc parts. And since I was not really exploring, I didn't bring my camera. I guess I'm one of the few people left with cellfones without cameras. When I found the Cathedral, it was actually the same chapel I was looking for. The internet had a technical problem with words. I ended up doing my Way of the Cross & the rosary with so little time.

I'll be back to do a long overdue exploring of our new place. I got lost with the oldness of this city. It reminded me of the movie, Le Parfum, Histoire d'un Meurtrier. Then it dawned on me how I neglect the time I have to actually visit the wonderful places of France, only just found under my nose. At times happiness is in those little moments of appreciation found just outside your window. Especially when your window is in France.

I miss the Holy Week in the Philippines. There is not a hint of it here & I kind of thank my ritual for keeping it inside of me, a habit that gives a personal inner peace. The real essence of Holy Week is finding in your heart & soul the crosses you carry & your own journey to epiphany. The many deaths & rebirths of merely living that shaped the very you now. Of being so full of gratitude. Sometimes it is in getting lost that we find such beauty in the world.

May your Easter continue to hatch good things in your days.

The Philippines have forever been sidetracked when it comes to the richness of its food. It couldn't be described as the best in Asia but it definitely has character so Filipino in taste. Living in a country where it's gastronomically known around the world, I was often asked what a typical Filipino menu is & I always list the common main dishes as adobo, sinigang, karekare then end up feeling irrelevant to a country where food is part of their culture. Keeping food warm, a common site in the Philippines

It is always when everything is out of sight that we naturally ransack the tastes you were practically born with. As disgusting the bagoong (shrimp paste) is, I freak out without a stock in my fridge. The taste of dried fish brings me home to bright & warm breakfasts. The sinigang broth reminds me of noisy family lunches. Having minimal access to these tastes logically made me appreciate more what is pinoy. With 7,107 islands, there would be as much ways to make adobo & with so many islands, there is as much island specialties to which I admit, have not tasted even half of them.

So one day, when my friend & I were arguing about the French having recipes for bulalo, the bone marrow, she told me as a matter of factly that Anthony Bourdain, featured it on his show "No Reservations." The curious me, and so out of the loop, I watched his episode on the Philippines. Watch No Reservations -Philippines (on this link, follow the trail to the 5 part episode) & tell me if you really know much about Filipino cuisine. And they didn't feature as much specialty. Do note the Pampanga scene - "Pampanga first before the Philippines."

The Filipino cuisine can boast its diverse menu. Sure the presentation sometimes can spoil your appetite but the taste is distinct that can be likewise rooted from the assortment of its ancestors. Sure I don't eat so much of anything from the inside but the French cuisine have been doing this dating back to many centuries ago & made popular by the peasants. They just have the language to make it more alluring & class. While the French call it the "boudin noir," the Filipinos call it the "betamax." Whoever names food betamax?!

The mixing & the fusion from many different forefathers have made the Filipino cuisine special in its own way. The taste might not cater to everybody but I am proud of the savors I was born with. In a country where people eat 5 times a day, who said food is not part of their culture? There are still so many to explore & discover in Philippine food & like in France, every region, or island has its own specialty. How much do you know your Filipino cuisine? Kain na!*

You can also watch No Reservations -France (again follow the trail to the 5 part episode) & note the rat trap shop from the Pixar movie Ratatouille. It's freaking real!

* Kain na! is the Filipino's bon appetit, loosely translated as "Let's eat!"

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