We never have an agenda. We simply start with great food chosen by Cora Oriel Ted Benito Maryjane Southerling Saldana Mina Layba Nathan Glenn myself or Rex Sampaga. Hubby shows up every now and then and if Roger Oriel is in town, he joins us. Last time he joined us at a paella place and another time, Kuya Lord.
Conversations meander all over the world and Glenn starts riotously, encouraged by Ted. Cora takes us back to sharing more stories and pretty soon, we all find humor in the dishes being served.
We go outdoors and share more stories. By the time we end it has been 4 or 5 hours of fellowship. Non-stop laughing, finding joy in our own reminiscing of our own past and sharing most importantly, our future plans and to help plan for more of life to be lived.
The best saying came from Ted:”I am only successful if the community benefits from it.” Imagine that community-mindedness!
I shared what I learned from Komos:”You should do good while you are living well.” The story ended with this luxury tequila maker who sends employees to become scholars, recycles agave husks to become biofuel pellets, pallets to transport their products and construction bricks to build schools and women’s shelter, that evening’s dinner was courtesy of Benel Se-Liban and Cris Liban, a night ago.
Find the good, do good for others and contribute to the joy-making each day!
Thanks for coming with me, dear love of my life Enrique de la Cruz. I love you all!
Last five photos #11 to #15 came from Mina Layba, a better photographer than I am.
“Luxury = You should do good while you are living well!” Exquisite!
What a beautiful first experience of pairing tequila with 4 course meal plus dessert. Four entrees were prepared by Chef Armando Quiroz, Executive Chef of the City Club, a special worldwide membership, where Cris and Benel Liban belong.
The dishes were done exquisitely well, almost Michelin-star rated, in my humble opinion – more so for the first course of oysters with caviar and the duck Mole with pickled kumqusts.
It was a special grouping of about 30 members sharing this well curated dinner. It included a Global Director of Education and Outreach of Tequila Komos – her name is…She described how Tequila Komos is prepared in a high quality manufacturing process, with agave grown in the forests for 6 to 7 years, then, harvested, processed, and aged, ranging from 2 years to 7 years.
We tasted four varieties: Anejo Cristalino (paired with oyster and caviar and ahi tuna ceviche with watermelon); Reposado Rosa (paired with Roasted Poblano Carbonara); Anejo Reserva (paired with Sesame Seed Seared Duck Mole) and Chocolate Pear Fillo.
“At Tequila Komos, we believe life is a special occasion and every day is worth celebrating, and that tequila should be inclusive, global, and approachable.”
What impressed me was the sustainability practices. Agave plant waste is made into biofuel pellets, transport pallets, construction bricks that will be used to build a school and a woman’s shelter.
Not only did the tequila score a range of scores from 98, 99 to 100, their sustainability practices give you a sense of calm that your footprint in drinking this refined tequila is being made smaller in waste value and bigger in social impact use! She ended by saying “Luxury is you should do good while you are living well.”
To folks who can afford $120 per bottle to $450 per bottle for the Extra Anejo, know you are contributing to respecting the land where agave forests are grown for 7 to 8 years before being made into tequila and where its waste products are renewed into building bricks, pallets and biofuel pellets.
Thank you very much Cris and Benel for sharing this luxurious experience with me. The best part – tequila bottles are made of porcelain and reusable as flower vases. We were allowed to take them home!
“ If you go to someone’s home and they offer you their food, they’re giving something of themselves. Once people give, then their heart is involved. Giving – making your contribution – is what brings community alive. “ Cesar Chavez
I have heard this quite a few times — it is valuable to honor a contribution, however small. It makes a difference in keeping a community together. I have observed this, like other Americans, when it was concretely done by the Obama presidential campaign. President Obama validated the smallest contribution, a $3.22 donation sent by a retired senior. Pres. Obama gave it such center stage importance.
The campaign focused on small, as well as grand participations, and behind-the-scenes strategy-making. This practice of gratitude has built a culture of mutual caring and continues to sustain a community to stay together. And in staying together through the recognition of contributions, whatever the amount, the equalizing factor of a democracy is kept vibrant.
I believed this practice allowed the Obama campaign to thread together the hearts of the few initial supporters initially until they ballooned to 3,000,000 volunteers who participated through various commitments: hosting fundraisers, knocking on doors, organizing phone booths, writing blogs, street rallying, and for op-ed writers, utilizing newspapers through their columns. All were acknowledged, through Obama’s website and with personal letters of thanks.
These acts of appreciation by Pres. Obama and Cesar Chavez bring another individual who practiced the same show of gratitude — Lean Alejandro.
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Lean and lanky, he was often teased and likened to a bean stalk. Lean was married to Lidy, a good-looking woman who is known for remembering precise details, including analyzing patterns and behaviors of folks she meets. She is very observant of people and listens perceptively. She is also equally generous with sharing her own travels and interactions with different cultures.
Before Lean was murdered by unidentified men in the Philippines, the couple traveled abroad, courtesy of Lidy’s parents. They made trips to visit family in the summer. During these trips, we were usually their first or last stop. Being their first stop would mean picking them up at the airport and being their last stop would entail a trip to Lidy’s parents house — a 60-mile journey from Los Angeles county to visit and bring them to the coast.
What I remember most were the laughs, the endless eating, and analysis of the political climate back home.
Oh, how he enjoyed life! On the way back from the airport, he would eagerly recall the details of his last visit. He would remember everything, from the steamed crabs that we had at the pier to the spot where we went fishing which we showed him.
Lidy, usually would have a more precise recall. During that time, Santa Monica Pier was quite clean and fishing was allowed from the pier. We would catch barracuda and even some perch. But, after fishing, perhaps Lean remembered the coast so well — the breeze, the languid waves lapping back and forth and he would associate our fishing with buying steamed, cooked crabs.
We would drive to Redondo Beach to buy steamed crabs to take them home and eat them with rice, vinegar and garlic. We would laugh so hard as we pried open, with difficulty, the crab claws. He made an analogy of the crabs with a person whom he encountered.
He had many reflections, perhaps foreshadowing how he needed to make the most out of what turned out to be a very brief life. Lean died at the age of 27.
He had grand stories to tell — stories of how he persuaded folks to change their perspectives.
And his story took us to the Lords of the Rings. He loved it so much that J. Uy of the Philippine Inquirer, Sept. 19, 2007 wrote: ” I ( Lidy ) introduced him to the ‘Lord of the Rings.’ But he didn’t tell his friends that he got it from me. Macho kasi,” said the feminist firebrand, ( Lidy ) chuckling at the memory of her husband, Lean.
Lean spoke in layered volumes, disclosing at times his dilemma, using the Lord of the Rings analogy: “Does the fellowship have what it takes to complete its task, or will the powers of evil overcome those of good leaving behind a world ravaged by the rage of Sauron, the Dark Lord? “
The Dark Lord of course, he was insinuating in the context of the Marcos dictatorship — a regime that instilled fear among Filipinos. Former President Marcos was known for unreasonably sending the opposition in prison, stifling the media, and taking ownership of key industries.
Lean was then aspiring to run for Congress, at a young age of 27. As a student leader, he attracted legions and inspired crowds. He got along with everyone — the poor, the middle-class and the wealthy elite. He was welcomed in the mansions of the rich, in churches, even in a humble slum dwelling. He inspired folks with simple words and with his abundant humor. He had a knack for creating slogans spontaneously: “ The struggle for freedom is the next best thing to actually being free,” or ” In The line of fire is a place of honor.”
In her August 2008 article, Marlu Villanueva-Balmaceda of Philstar.com, had this to say: “I liked Lean because he was oozing with confidence, he was so articulate, and he was totally charismatic. He was like a magnet. Even if he was talking ideology, it all made sense to me.”
My most vivid memory of Lean was how he shook my hand and how he would hold my right hand with both his hands, how he would look into my eyes and smile. He would thank us profusely for the slightest thing — from picking them up at the airport, even to taking them out for coffee. He was always generous with his gratitude.
Lean understood the price of good, effective leadership. He knew his life would be on the line, and he was acutely aware that it could end prematurely. Yet, he never failed to thank folks that he encountered in his path.
Twenty two years later, those who murdered of Lean Alejandro have still not been brought to justice. Up to now, those who pulled the trigger on Lean and Ninoy Aquino are still unidentified.
Rumors abound that both Lean and Ninoy were assassinated by the radical arm of the military, the same people who made six coup attempts to depose the presidency of Cory Aquino.
We may never know who killed Lean. But what we do know is that his widow, Lidy Nacpil Alejandro, now remarried, is moving forward with her progressive vision. Lidy has traveled to more than 220 cities in the world, speaking on behalf of progressive causes. Her latest journey was made for the Freedom from Debt Coalition, to educate people on how massive foreign debt cripples industrialization and development in developing countries.
Today, Lean’s legacy and the community he built lives on in our hearts, immortalized in a wing of Vinzon’s Hall in the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, named after him. Photographs of his life as an activist are displayed in his memory.
I plan to pay my respects and gratitude on my next visit to Lean — a good, fun friend who was ahead of his time. He gave up his life so we can have our freedom. I utilize this freedom by continuing to vigilantly write about issues he fought for — a democratic, free world for everyone, rich or poor.
Last night was truly special, a one on one with Cora Oriel my very good hearted, warm, supportive, caring, loving long-time friend.
She is a community leader/publisher of Asian Journal – a newspaper of 33 years delivering truthful, positive news, a positive force for good. We tried this new restaurant referred by another friend. It was so yummy. I noticed the crowd was young, eclectic, funky folks – with all kinds of earrings, bodies tattooed, and boy does she know what to order, she said she comes several times a week. I glanced at her table with little gem salad, wagyu steak and hummus with freshly baked, piping hot flat bread.
Ours was too sumptuous and generous: cauliflower, Mac and cheese, two kinds of hummus, corn ribs, branzino and so so delicious porkchop marinated in lime and fish sauce. And to end it with peach on a pavlova meringue boat. Oh so so nice – to talk about parenting, family, community building, music, high quality loving marriage, God’s miracles. So blessed to have this positive experience and to be sang Happy Birthday to in Korean. Kamsamidah! Thank you so much for this royal treatment, Cora!
Not done with his activities agenda, mind you, he is 18 months old, he took the numbers book in Tagalog ‘Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo…ito ay abalo! by Jocelyn Francisco, Ph.D. and art by Jamie Lee Ortiz.
By the way, I interrupted him going upstairs. He whined a bit. But I explained I need to change his diaper, then we can go for a stroller walk. He cooperated fully: switched on the light, then as I was washing his butt, he would collect water with his hand and applied the water onto the medicine cabinet. After, he knows how to switch off the light.
He wanted to climb on the sofa. I said, you can after we put on your diaper. He cooperated. I got his diaper on. He got up and stood by the drum.
He started drumming. He went to the sofa and stood up to #raymondhewitt drum and started pounding. Notice his #rhythm and this was done without coaching. @mondavid5 – he will need music lessons from you soon.
I then recited: “R is kind, R is handsome, R is loving, R is compassionate, R is adventurous, R is smart.” He clapped his hands with gusto.
He wanted to be cuddled. I held him for a few minutes and now, he is napping two hectic hours later.
Would you believe I was able to cook breakfast while doing all these?
I looked forward to my appointment this morning. At Spencer’s office, he was fretting that the computer is not working. I told him my next appointment is not till noon so he can relax. As soon as he relaxed, technology worked for him.
I then had lunch with my daughter who treated me. I love it when my children buy my meals. Not only did she buy me lunch, she bought our salad dinner, too. What a blessing to feel the generosity of my daughter.
“Mom, I can buy you coffee, too, she offered.
I declined as she’s working and besides, Nespresso is waiting for me. “You have a Nespresso, Mom? That’s expensive.” It is and your dad got it for me. Not flaunting, just sharing the family love I am receiving.
Later, I rode an Uber to meet up with Thea, a lifestyle enterpreneur of good health, supplements that work to activate the healing qualities of your body, a zumba dance instructor, and a health and wellness professional for an HMO. She asked me to share the positive benefits I found taking Lifevantage and comparing it with the external Korean skin care products and the Yoli products. I shared my truth with her. About 15 minutes of sharing with Christian videotaping in support of Thea.
I had a beautiful conversation with my first Uber driver, Araceli, who works for a periodontist 3 days a week and 2 days as an Uber driver. We conversed about life and her family value of raising her two daughters to pursue what they love, not the dollars. They are happy and look forward to work each day.
On the way home, I had another great encounter with an Uber driver, Jose Luis Cedillo, a substitute teacher, a playwright and a theater director, Thea’s treat.
When I mentioned the name of Jon Lawrence Rivera he said he knows him as Playwrights Arena and mentioned Latino Theater Centre. We spoke about politics and forecasted a win for the Democrats. Imagine that! But we must all watch to make sure no cheating happens.
As I exited, he asked me to write a line to him, which I did: kind, creative, and friendly.
What a day of goodness as my daughter treated me for lunch and dinner; while Thea Fernandez Martinez and Christian Martinez treated me to Taiwanese dimsum and Dan Dan noodles.
Thank you Lord for all these moments of goodness, unplanned and unsolicited generosity, and kindness! Maraming Salamat po!
