It has been 10 days now since my beloved auntie passed away… Many may not know her… but others may, especially if you are into the culinary or history or a Bulakenya… She is known as “the food historian”. She has a unique history-cooking book named “Kasaysayan ng Kaluto ng Bayan”… She researched, conceptualized and prepared the famous “FOOD OF OUR HEROES” and “EVOLUTION OF OUR FOOD” food exhibits, presentations and festivals.

I want to share to everyone the legacy Tita Mila has given me… more that just delicious recipes, more that just great times, more than great wisdom… She taught me real meaning of and passion for our history, culture and nationalism, th real sense and meaning of sharing to others what you have and what you know, real meaning of joy in what you do, real meaning of service to fellowmen, family country and God, and the appreciation for gift of life and love given by the Lord God.

Originally posted in my multiply account… (http://kodanjo1998.multiply.com/journal/item/48)

Please allow me to pay my tribute to my great aunt, whom I miss so much…

“NAULILA NANAMAN AKO”

Last June 8, 2008, my beloved Cha went home… fetched by angels, they carried her to heaven where she belongs… as many grieved here on earth, I bet, many rejoiced in heaven as she entered… i am very sure that aside from Cho Titong who has been longing for her for 15 years… my PAPA must be very very happy to see her kid sister finally with him again… Surely he would drive her around like he used to when they were with us…

I can’t remember when I first met Cha Mila… but when I was small together with my Papa and Mommy, we would always go to the Bahay-na-Bato o Matandang-bahay… Cha Mila’s house… because it’s either she has a “pakain” for the doctors of their Medical Mission, a free consultations, treatment and minor surgery for the les fortunate on their old house’s silong or a cooking demo and lecture. She would prepare sumptuous local / traditional foods… always inviting everybody to eat…

I also remember how she and my mom would go to barrios to teach moms and other kababaihans how to cook foods that can be a source of livelihood… She organized various Livelihood Programs for marginalized women. I remember how she would ask my mom to demonstrate “Bangus Deboning, Donut-bahay, Empanadang Tinapa, and Gurgurya”. They would go from one barrio to another to teach these women, be it under the banner of Rural Improvement Club, Non Formal Education or Ladies’ Brigade.

When I was in grade 5 and grade 6, I would always take the ACIL teachers for their snack at the old house, Cha Mila’s Palabok was a major hit… the Ateneans with full stomach… heads back to Manila…

When I was studying in UST… My dad would always visit me, kasi nag-bo-board ako… and with him is Cha Mila always smiling and most of the time giving me an extra cash sabay sabi na “panggastos-gastos mo jan”…

When I graduated in 1991, I did not work agad… Papa became sickly na kasi and my Mom meet an accident, I have to take care of them here in Bulacan… It was during this time na Cha Mila is already busy with her undertakings… she was compiling her manuscripts and recipes for her book… My first stint with her is the “TELE-ARALAN NG KAKAYAHAN SPECIAL ON MAKASAYSAYANG KALUTO”. I was one of her assistant cook… I made “SINABOL” a special drink…

Also active with his son’s (Kuya Bong) theater group, I became one of her constant assistant. I helped in the encoding (typing) of her manuscript and recipes, I accompany her to her food exhibits, food demos, food festivals, interviews and other activities…

She willingly and generously shared her talent, her skills, her wisdom, her experiences and her recipes to everyone. From an “under the tree in a barrio” cooking demo to TV guestings in cooking shows, food festivals in five star hotels, cooking demos for big food company or establishment, and eventually an international exposure, when we went to Washington DC USA as delegates of the SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL in 1998 representing PHILIPPINE KITCHEN.

Time flies so fast…

It never occurred to me then, that I would be a part of her mission… Up to now, for the past 17 years… I am very proud to have assisted my aunt in all her causes and endeavors, culinary and non-culinary. In all those years that I was with her not only did I learn to have a passion for cooking, I also learned from her to have a passion for our history… to appreciated our culture and tradition more, became proud of our rich heritage. She is an example of the real meaning of sharing… as my mom would always tell me “the feeding of the multitudes was a miracle brought about by sharing everything you have unselfishly to everyone”. Tita Mila happily shared everything to everybody.

During the last years of her life, her stage 4 cancer did not stop her, despite her hectic medical schedule, during her spare time she is still busy writing, compiling and promoting the culinary heritage of our nation. Last year while she is under chemo-therapy she still manage to put up a number of food festivals, like the celebration of History Week 2007, of National Historical Institute which held a free, whole day program entitled “Lecture-Demonstration on the Culinary Legacy of the Women of Malolos and Vanishing Arts and Crafts.” She accepted the invitation of Filipinas Heritage Library Food Trip sa Bulacan, but she was not able to make it, so I was the one that demonstrated her Pamanang Kaluto. She was even featured in Kapuso mo, Jessica Soho’s episode of “Naglalahong Tradisyonal na Pagkaing Pam-pasko”, where she shared 3 recipes from her “PASKO NG KAHAPON MENU”. She volunteered to put up a food exhibit dubbed as “A TRIBUTE TO THE VETERANS HEROES OF PHILIPPINE WORLD WAR II” at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center for their VETERAN’S DAY. She also had a food exhibit in CEU Mendiola dubbed as “Food of Famous Women, highligthing The Culinary Legacy of the Women of Malolos”. She also encouraged us to put up a food exhibit during our Sinakulo 2008 gala premier about the “Pagkaing Kwaresma”. We also guested at the show of NCCA Director Cecile Guidote Alvares’ show in Channel 4, Gising Sining, still promoting our traditional recipes, our cultural heritage.

And even during her last days… her concern was the re-printing of her “KASAYSAYAN NG KALUTO NG BAYAN” cookbook… and a number of researches, personal experiences and other studies… She was so afraid that everything would die along with her…

She gave me a list of things she would want to be accomplished… Our last “gimick” was when I accompanied her to the book launching of Ms Chona Trinidad’s book “Nostalgia”.

She was very happy that night… surrounded by friends and admirers who were very happy so see her strong… She was asked to speak… and like always her humbleness and gentleness touched everyone… she even mentioned that she’s already at the gate 6 of the departure area. I was glad I accompanied her that night… I was so happy to be with her that night… Up to now I can never forget her smiles, her sweet laughter and her gentleness…

It was June 6 when I last saw her alive… Hours before I left Veterans Memorial Medical Center. I was at the room when Ate Sylvia txted me ” Riza pinapatawag ka ng Mommy, kantahan mo daw sya”. without hesitation I went to the ICU… I was glad to have sang to her a few of her favorites, and I even saw her singing with me… Almost all the song I sang were the songs my Papa sang… I sang while rubbing her legs and feet… I left that night with a promise to return the next day.

Saturday, June 7, I have plans of returning to VMCC that night. Inspired, I drafted my essay on the “Panahong ng Sentenyal”, and additional epoch and the final chapter of her Kaluto book for re-printing, she asked me and Nely to collaborate on the said chapter. I was able to finish it, I wanted her to hear what I wrote before its too late, can’t wait for Nely… I asked Kuya Bong if he could check and edit my work… he said yes and I emailed it to him… I asked him if he was going to the hospital, para makasabay ako… but he said…”bukas na lang tayo pumunta don, basahin natin sa Mommy yung ginawa mo”. So I said okey… That night before I went to sleep, on our bed, I felt so lonely, I was so depressed and though of Cha Mila… how I would miss her when she’s gone… Our “telebabad”, our “chismisan”, our “racket”, our “gimmick”…

Ate Zita told me that…”alam mo Riza hindi ka naman anak ng Mommy eh… KAIBIGAN ka nya…” And it was an honor… to be her friend at the same time I know she loved me like I was on of her daughters.

I miss her so much… her kwentos, her soft giggles, her sweet smiles, her super sarap na kaluto, her gentleness, her generosity, her humbleness… Though I know she’s in a much much better place, happier and free from all the pain… I miss her so much…

Kuya Bong was right, his mom showed the real meaning of “SERVICE” to family, fellowmen, country and most especially to GOD…. My aunt left a rich legacy… A legacy that she don’t want to leave just to her family, but to everybody, a legacy that she dreamt it would last even her lifetime…

Below is beautiful write up of a very fortunate person who has the opportunity to meet my aunt…

Kitchen Rescue
Chronicler of Philippine Food History
By Reggie Aspiras
Inquirer
First Posted 01:57pm (Mla time) 03/31/2006

Published on Page D3 of the March 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THERE’S a serene aura that that comes with age and a life well-lived. Indeed, a full life has its just rewards!

Milagros Enriquez, 83, a war veteran and cancer survivor, defied the odds gracefully and beautifully.

Her gentle voice, calm demeanor and tales to tell seem too much for someone like me. Beside her I seem so young, so unknowledgeable. Truly, one can never know it all… Time and experience remain, in fact, life’s best teachers.

Over coffee and old-fashioned cakes at the Enriquez ancestral home in Bulacan, she spoke of the good old days. All over the place are mementos of bygone years. Carnival glass, antique furniture, lamps from the turn of the century, even a Katipunan battle flag…
It would have been most appropriate to have gone there garbed in a Maria Clara. I was walking into a dream, the idea of guerillas tucked somewhere in the house would not have been farfetched.

Born Milagros Santiago, the daughter of Malolos municipal doctor Cristobal Santiago and Club de Mujeres president (1929-30) Enriqueta Cervantes, it was her mother’s involvement in the club that sparked her interest in food that eventually led to the historical chronicling of Philippine cuisine.

Perhaps, the fact that she married Jacinto Enriquez, son of Vicente Enriquez, a Katipunero, aide de camp to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and one of the founders of the Katipunan in Bulacan, played a major role.

Ka Mila’s achievements are many. She was our representative to the Smithsonian in Washington during the Folk Life Festival where she spoke of our food heritage. She was recognized during the Philippine Centennial as one of the 100 women who made lasting contributions in the field of arts and culture.

Enriquez also authored the book “Kasaysayan ng Kaluto ng Bayan,” which, unfortunately, is now out of print.

Her researches include: Food of the Soldiers “Alay sa Kawal,” from Rajah Sulayman, who was killed in the battle of Bangkusay to Boodle Fight Food in Mindanao; The Evolution of the Christmas Menu—Ethnic to Present; Ang Mga Paboritong Pagkain ng Mga Bayani; Favorite Food of the Presidents and The Malolos Inauguration of Philippine Independence Menu.

Ka Mila, may you continue to be blessed with many more years, so that you may see the fulfillment of your dream that “Kasaysayan ng Kaluto ng Bayan” be reprinted! That much you owe us!

For your numerous contributions to Philippine cuisine, we will never be able to thank you enough. Forever, our gratitude!

Visit:

http://kalutonikamila.multiply.com

http://kodanjo1998.multiply.com

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