#maharlika2023la had 3 lumpiang Shanghai. By the third lumpia, he says, “Want some?” I said, “No thanks!” He went to the garden to give his Lolo some. His idea for sharing cannot be thwarted.
He went to the backyard. He saw his grandpa watering the plants. He found a ledge next to the growing cactus, in front of four dragon fruits. He started singing and humming. I smiled.
He went indoors and followed through on his singing initiative. I showed him the video of Notre Dame Cathedral in France and the soprano singing Amazing Grace. He listened, he hummed the tune and kept his focus on the lyrics and music. He has natural musical rhythms. Much like his mom who plays the cello. Much like his sister #princess2015la now playing the violin.
Through 4 days of shared togetherness, laughter, sharing, visiting basilica, aquarium, 17 mile drive, we had unabashed, sincere connections with one another. If this is heaven, I want to be entering the door towards holiness and being with these classmates who have grown to their best selves, and enjoying beautiful flowers, especially Bougainvillea, and church tower.
I am crying. My favorite caterer, friend, cheerleader, community recruiter for stories, Lem Balagot of Larosecafe Hollywood died. His cafe was my go place to introduce visitors and folks, new to the community.
In his restaurant, we found a warm, safe, welcoming place. It is where I conducted some of my interviews.
When I wrote a story for Lem for Balikbayan Magazine, it took interview snippets, 9 occasions that could be squeezed in, as he was busy saying hello to patrons of a very busy restaurant. Lem’s heart was so wide open that he helped many many community folks.
LA Rose Cafe’s post: “A culinary pioneer who fostered the heart and soul of Philippine cuisine.” October 21, 2024
He opened to the church choir an hour before opening the restaurant, as a special Simbang Gabi breakfast treat from me to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church – Los Angeles Adult Choir, headed by Pete Avendano. He catered several events at the Philippine Consulate with his signature egg salad with caviar on top. He even catered several special events of priests celebrating their important 25th sacerdotal anniversary. He also catered merienda at my book launch, Even The Rainbow Has A Body at the garden room of Japanese American Cultural & Community Center – JACCC. He catered many community celebrations and corporate events. He had a flair for making all coherence to spell luxurious in tastes, flavors, presentation and his personality shared so warmly and welcoming to all.
May the saints and angels and the Lord in heaven welcome him as warmly as he did, daily in over 42 years in his restaurant.!
My deepest condolences to Rai, his caring spouse and his diligent, conscientious caregiver during his convalescent period.
This is our community’s shared loss of a person with a beautiful heart, kept open to embrace us all!
The Art of a Road Trip: Towards the Light, Water and Community Created Intentionally!
Imagine driving 5 hours one way from Austin to Houston, and another 3 hours back to drop off friends to their respective homes in Temple, then, Austin.
It might sound crazy, yet it is so endearing to find families coming together, travelling miles and hours at a distance to celebrate other family members’ birthdays. Travel distance has become irrelevant as hearts and souls want to celebrate the birthdays of 5yo Max and his 50 yo father, David. Cindy, the mother, worked days and nights preparing all the food from scratch, baked brownie to form a layered birthday cake, and of course lechon.
Max has a brother, 2 years older than him, Ollie. When Max and Ollie saw their Uncle Chong, they both jumped to embrace him and warmly expressed: “Our favorite Uncle Chong!” He hands them pencils which he bought at the Capitol in Austin and Nutella jars with their names printed on the label, making them jump some more with joy.
Ollie said:”I have a happy family. I am very lucky!” Imagine knowing that at age 7. Ollie then embraced his mom, “isn’t that true, Mom?”
A lively group sang Happy Birthday and Max was visibly happy who told his mom how he loves the icing. David opened a retro fridge filled with drinks and hands a Dr. Pepper to a beautiful 13yo Allie, whose eyes sparkled with joy as she said hi to everyone at the dining table. She got her favorite drink which David, the host, remembered to buy for her. Allie is Filipina and David is Caucasian – a harmonious encounter of two different races.
After, a group started karaoke singing, while several guests gathered for a group photo. They posed laughing as they lifted one keg to distinguish oneself.
As each guest came in, they warmly hugged each other and each family had an entrée contribution, generously prepared, to add to a generous buffet of dishes that Cindy prepared for all.
It was our time to drive back to Austin, another 3 hour drive, after being with a very warm, welcoming, grounded community built on love, sharing, harmony and joy!! Everyone is seen!
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At Seafood City in Houston, Texas
I saw two lechons in one day, one at Max and Ollie’s and another at Seafood City. A small cochinito was wheeled into a food court where fish balls, isaw isaw, grilled corn, camote cue and prepared entrees were offered for sale. Ka ching, ka ching, the cash register was non-stop.
This is a newly opened Seafood City, where we travelled to, 40 minutes each way, and others are willing to drive even more distance to stock up on their favorite comfort foods.
I watched a woman with her Boba and champorado, eating a barbecue stick, while watching TFC on her smart phone. She was comfortably eating alone, with the background noises of her kababayans speaking tagalog, visayan and other dialects. This, while sharing tables with strangers eating bento boxes of longanisa and eggs with rice, or tapa.
It makes for a transient community of fellow Filipinos eating familiar comfort foods. A baker nearby was wheeling out fresh bread, also known as pandesal.
Produce is fresh, while the fresh blue crabs were sold at $5.99 a pound. Folks came before ten am, as choice favorites quickly run out. Clerks were constantly restocking shelves.
This is a humongous space, Ala Costco in size, but curated to carry pan Asian foods, raw and unprocessed, baked and cooked, including curries, and Thai sauces.
Texas star is an appropriate symbol of this state for they are warm, friendly, and kind. Men held doors open for me, a stranger to them.
Gas is at $2.79 a gallon, while we pay an exorbitant $2.00 more in California, at $4.79 a gallon. One tank of gas is at $30, which gives us more dollars to spend for an evening meal: steaks, burgers and chicken dinner for five is surprisingly affordable at $134.00.
This is where new homes are priced at $300,000 to $800,000 for 3 bedroom house. The state has signs on freeways that declare camping in public properties is unlawful.
As to jobs, for example, at a large retail store, Buc-ee’s, job openings are displayed in a banner from cleaning staff, cashier to store general manager. When a friend nurse moved from Florida to Texas, their hourly rate increased, and after a year, were able to buy their first home.
I told my host, Hydee, that I like the fact as she succeeds and lifts her boat, the surrounding boats of her community are also lifted up!
“Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is one of Houston’s most beloved, iconic landmarks and community centerpiece for visitors of all ages.
To stand in the Waterwall’s mist and be enveloped by the gentle roar of cascading water is one of the city’s most memorable experiences. Walking along the lush canopy of towering live oak trees while in the core of one of the largest business districts in the nation, is inspiring.”
Our Lady of Lourdes Campus in NW Houston, Texas. It is an impressive expansion of its campus, integrating the Vietnamese community. Or is it the Vietnamese community who built this impressive chapel underneath the grotto, the big church and the expansive campus? I was informed that thousands fill up this Church at mass times and other important milestones: marriage, burials, and seven sacraments for an active church. Truly impressive to see a replica of Our Lady of Lourdes!
O glorious Mother of God, so powerful under your special title of Our Lady of Lourdes, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the gracious heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare and for the special favor we so need to have a fair, honest, peaceful US Elections, with no cultist interference! Thank you!
