Manila Zoo Revisited: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and Hopes for the Future

Maali, the 34-year old elephant, a gift from Sri Lanka.

Half of the people in our household have never seen an elephant before in their lives. We live a few blocks away from Manila Zoo, and each time we'd pass by it, I'd think to myself how unfortunate it is that our staff didn't capitalize on the proximity of the zoo.  So last month, we went on an excursion, with the kids and our household staff. That trip gave me much to think about. I saw a lot of things to reflect on: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the potentials for a better future.

Our tour group: Yaya Roli, Basti and Chie (carrying Narra),
Yaya Nene (carrying Guijo), and myself.

Let me start with the GOOD. Manila Zoo is very affordable. We paid 40 pesos for adults, and 20 pesos for children. A pricing strategy like this is laudable for its accessibility, making the zoo truly a people's park. The trees in the zoo are full-grown and shady, with extensive root networks and far-reaching branches - they offer the soothing sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. The zoo is an urban oasis, where free-roaming birds, not those in captivity, actually find a great space to thrive amidst the pollution and congestion of the mega city.  Underneath the layer of decay is an elegant layout - an intelligent "bone structure". You sense it, that there was much thought that went into the underlying grand design mapping out the zoo's  winding footpaths, elevated view decks, little bridges, and even a tiny little lake, with it's own tiny little island.  We marveled at the sheer size of animals like Maali the elephant, and Bertha the hippo. We valued the rare chance to see such awesome creatures live, in the flesh! Oh how my companions, kids and adults alike enjoyed our trip. Everyone seemed more relaxed after our visit. We got the breather we needed.

The lone hippopotamus Bertha, by her dipping pool.

That said, let's go to the BAD.  The more minor causes for complaint are the signs of neglect: the cracked concrete, chipped paint, worn out barriers, dirty water surfaces, and foul smell. Then there's the major concern over the condition of the animals. I felt sad for the wooly sheep baking under the sun on a small field with dried up grass. I imagine they should be in some colder clime, in green, green fields of New Zealand. One can always say, oh well, we're a third world country, we don't have the budget for improving the displays so that we can re-create the natural habitat of the animals. But the "lack of budget" argument is not enough justification. There is a conceptual impoverishment at play here, a lack of innovation and resourcefulness in re-imagining the zoo in a way that works with our Pinoy reality. There are serious ethical issues that need to be addressed: should we perpetuate the anthropocentric notion that nature exists for man's exploitation, and animal rights are secondary to human needs for recreation and education? I will go back to these points at the end of this post, but let me first talk about the UGLY.

Some of the zoo's patrons do UGLY things. I was so incensed! A group of adult men threw rocks at a sleeping tiger because they wanted to hear it growl. Oh gosh, I did not want my daughter to think that was ok, that it can be tolerated! I told the men off, "sino nag bato nun?!" (who threw that rock?), I hissed at them in my "angry teacher tone". I wasn't scared of the group of men, because I had my two babies with me, and like any other animal in the wild, I am at my fiercest when I am with my young and I feel they are in the presence of bad elements.  I felt mad at the situation, I felt angry for the poor tiger, a strong and awesome creature diminished to this, a helpless sitting duck people throw rocks on.  Then, next to that sad tiger, were the monkeys - oh my! They were eating chips out of foil bags, there they were, the popular brands: Piattos, V-Cut and Chippy. And as if that wasn't enough, they were drinking Zesto with a straw!  They were begging for junk food from the zoo patrons, and on the ground, at the base of the tree on which they perched, are more wrappers - garbage left uncollected - the zookeepers know this is going on, and they let it continue! This, I find to be an ugly situation.  These types of zoo-goers are the very people who need to be educated about ethical treatment of animals. 

So where do we go from here? There are two roads to take, one leads to shutting down the zoo - there is a group of people clamoring for it. Do I agree with them? Not really. I've been to good zoos that left me feeling awed and respectful of the animal kingdom. The other road, is to improve and change the zoo for the better - and this is the option I am hoping for.  There is a lot Manila Zoo can learn from Museo Pambata, an institution in Manila that I find very inspiring.  Museo Pambata re-imagined what a museum should be like, and redesigned the museum experience in a way that is uniquely Filipino. They created exhibits that addressed relevant concerns. When I go there, I feel proud to be Pinoy, I feel the wealth of talent behind the conceptualization and execution of the exhibits. They broke free from the typical conception of a museum as a quiet place full of untouchable treasures in glass cases and made their building sing with the music of children's laughter.  It's time the Manila Zoo's leaders returned to the drawing board to envision a new zoo philosophy, and create a different zoo-going experience that is uniquely our own.  They already have a lot going for them. They have supporters, fans and friends of the zoo who are willing to put in the work. They have this amazing location, a green oasis with mature, grown trees - that in itself is a treasure in a congested metropolis. 

The caged tiger.

Truth be told, I felt invigorated by the stroll through the park because I felt closer to nature. We were there at sundown, "agaw-dilim" we call it - that moment when the sky's "light of day" is being wrestled away by the "dark of night". It's supposed to be a magical moment. One of my companions, Chie, said the trees were "buhay", or alive. That is, they were inhabited by spirits, animated by elemental beings. Birds began to roost on the trees, in tune with the disappearing light, with a few caged birds of prey looking at us as we walked by. I carried my baby Guijo close to my body, and walked as fast as I could, with Narra in tow, because I felt scared - the kind of fear that comes from being raised to respect the spirit world. It felt like it was time to go home and leave the park and it's inhabitants undisturbed. My overactive imagination saw more than just birds. In my mind's eye, I saw Manila's original "residents", those who were here way before the city overtook the land.  

I was happy to feel such presence - the kind I feel only when I am in a forest, or in holy places like Mt. Banahaw.  This place is alive. And that's a very good sign. Nature thrives here. It is a special place that we need to treasure.  This can be a uniquely Filipino zoo, where our myths and legends, and folk beliefs are woven into the tales we tell about the animals we see. This can be a Filipinized zoo showcasing our diverse fauna, highlighting those species endemic to our terrain and climate so we don't unnecessarily torture animals with anatomies that are made for drastically different contexts.  This zoo can be our peek into the animal kingdom using a distinctly Pinoy lens.  We can probably do with less animals too, that are cared for more - quality instead of quantity - I didn't think we needed as many tigers, or as many monkeys of the same species crowding the same tree. 

I saw the good, the bad, the ugly, and the potentials for a different - and better future for Manila Zoo. For most of my companions, they saw the beauty of this place. My yaya Nene wants to go back there on her day-off, even alone! because she found it so enriching.  Chie too, confessed she didn't have any interest in the zoo until we went there. "Maganda pala" (it's beautiful after all) she said later. And of course, there's the kids. They were thrilled with the animals, and the play ground!  I am glad I went with them. Their enthusiasm was infectious. I was pretty jaded and ambivalent about taking my kids to the zoo, my mind was cluttered with ethical debates and issues, but after our visit, and with help from my companions, I too, saw the beauty of Manila Zoo and allowed myself to enjoy it for the diamond in the rough that it is. We can chisel away at it, with all our criticisms, in the hopes that by doing so, we produce a sparkling gem in years to come.   

Museo Pambata's Bahay Kubo & Getting Narra to Eat Vegetables

The new bahay kubo of the Kalikasan exhibit. 

In a world of brilliant branding, the humble sitaw and kalabasa will have a hard time competing with nuggets and fries in winning the affection of picky young eaters.  But with documentaries like "Supersize Me" instilling awareness of the dangers of fast food among parents, there is a strong desire to raise kids right and teach them healthy habits like eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Every bit of reinforcement helps, and I am so happy to find helpful exhibits in Museo Pambata that can make it easier for me to introduce Narra to a variety of local produce.

Match the veggies. Note: the last museum-goers who played
this matching game got some of the veggies wrong. The luya,
bawang, linga, and sibuyas are misplaced in this photo.
I should have fixed it before taking the picture!

One of their new exhibits which opened just two weeks ago, displays a nipa hut or bahay kubo with a matching game featuring various vegetables from the classic folk song entitled Bahay Kubo. The names of the vegetables enumerated in the folk song are listed on child height boards with hooks, and children and parents have to guess which vegetables correspond with which names.   We were singing the song as we explored the exhibit, and I took a photo so I could continue to point out to Narra the different veggies even at home. I plan to cross out the things we eat until we complete the whole picture. This way, we can have a goal of trying out different local veggies and meal time can be an adventure.

The Fruit and Vegetable Store. Narra's favorite.

Narra also spent a lot of time on what seems to me to be her favorite exhibit, the Fruit and Vegetable Store. On our last visit, she loved playing with the weighing scale, and she wanted to return to the same spot to do the same things.  I picked out an eggplant and asked her what it was, and she said "it's a purple banana". Ok, ok, I found that funny. It's good to know she's not color blind. But it seems I still have a lot to teach her.  We'll have more many more trips to this museum until she knows all her fruits and veggies, and many other things besides. I also want her to understand that food does not appear by magic, so she can respect the process behind cultivation, and ultimately respect nature as our source of food. I thought this was something children would naturally, intuitively know! But apparently, it is something that needs to be taught and explained, especially in an age of processed and packaged food where the golden arches of McDonalds is an "organic" part of their urban landscape.

The bamboo cart by the bahay kubo. 2nd floor.

I feel a little sad for urban kids today, whose everyday lives seem to be so disengaged from nature. I want Narra to appreciate how plants grow on soil, how farmers sow seeds, and harvest vegetables in carts, out on the field. I want her to understand how much work goes into what she eats so she learns to value every grain of rice. As Narra sat on a bamboo cart, I pointed to the murals on the walls and made her imagine fields full of crops under the heat of the sun, singing the folk song "Magtanim ay di biro" (roughly translated: planting is no joke). 

The newly opened Herb Garden.

Museo Pambata also  just opened an Herb Garden, which is inviting physically and conceptually. While some of the museum's exhibits refer to nature on a grand scale - with topics like rain forests, mangrove forests, rice fields and oceans - the herb garden reminds us that nature is everywhere, even in a pot sitting on your porch. If only all homes became greener, not just in conserving energy and disposing of waste responsibly, but also in greening the metropolis through homegrown plants.  I am inspired to act!

Narra putting veggies on her plate.

After our museum visit, I bought Bahay Kubo veggies: Kalabasa, Sitaw, and Sigarillas. Our cook Chie added her Bicolana touch to the veggies and cooked them in coconut cream, or gata.  Before lunch, I showed Narra the Bahay Kubo photo from the museum, and told her what we were going to eat. At lunch, I asked her to pick out which one was the kalabasa, and the sitaw and so on...yes, it's my devious way of getting her to put veggies on her plate all by herself, without resorting to coercion or rewards. She liked the kalabasa and the sigarillas, but she spit out the sitaw. 2 out of 3 - not bad!  I have plans of taking this a step further in the future, imagine if we can grow our own vegetables in our garden! Imagine if she can pick or harvest her own food! I am excited at the prospect!

I find going to Museo Pambata an interactive experience even long after the museum visit. It stirs my mind as a mother and stimulates my kids. I want Narra and Guijo to grow up reflecting on their lives as they live it. To me, that's what my visits to this particular museum will be for. It's a way to allow us, as a Filipino family in Manila, to make sense of who we are and how we live - a lesson manifested even in the simple act of teaching our kids what to eat.

Related Posts:

Narra's Star on Museo Pambata's Christmas Tree

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/narras-star-on-museo-pambatas-christmas.html

Museo Pambata Part 1: Introducing Kids to Philippine Architecture
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-1-introducing-kids.html

Museo Pambata Part 2: Encouraging Kids to be Writers and Artists
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-encouraging-kids-to-be.html

Museo Pambata Part 3: Introducing Kids to Theater, Dance, and Music
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-3-introducing-kids.html

Museo Pambata Part 4: Exposing Kids to Entrepreneurship
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-4-exposing-kids-to.html

Museo Pambata Part 5: Instilling Environmental Awareness Early On

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-5-instilling.html

Kid-Friendly Places: Barbara's Cultural Dinner Show

Details for Barbara's Cultural Dinner Show.

Growing up, I had fond memories of enjoying Filipino food while watching folk dances. We would often bring to these cultural dinners our guests who are balikbayans, family and friends who have migrated abroad and are back for a visit after many years of not seeing the Philippines.  They would usually be hungry for Filipino food, and the accompanying folk dances and music would unfailingly bring about a sense of nostalgia. Last week, my uncle Fr. Manuel Serranilla, arrived from Canada. I invited him to dinner at Barbara's in Intramuros.  I knew the area would trigger recollections of the past, after all, my uncle was ordained at San Agustin Church just across from Barbara's, and he knew the area well for he frequently walked the historic streets of the walled city as a young seminarian training to be a priest decades ago. 

The ensemble of dance scholars performing the jota.

I made sure to bring Narra, it's her turn now to tag along the way I did with my parents in the 80's whenever they had guests.  When I was young, we would drive to Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay, where the hotel's restaurant regularly held performances. A nearer destination was Josephine's restaurant in the Greenbelt of old, which had dinner shows nightly. I was so happy to hear Barbara's has such a show now. I used to associate Barbara's with stiff fine dining, the type of place that induces diners to sit up straight. But now, with the cultural show and buffet set up, I felt comfortable enough to bring my toddler. I knew there would be lively music, and a lot of people moving about - the combination of a  buffet and a show gives people license to stand up, walk, and take photos - so I knew Narra wouldn't be a nuisance in such an environment.  

My mom Sonia, carrying Narra to give her a better view.

My mom absolutely loves cultural performances. Watching shows brings her back to her early days as a young teacher who directed various types of school shows and student theater productions. A night of music and dancing always makes my mom glow. She carried Narra off to the side, to give her a better vantage point. She was whispering explanations to my daughter as the show went on, personally bequeathing to her grandchild history and heritage as she knows it.  

Fan dance from the Southern Philippines.

The dance scholars who were performing that night were very engaging. Their youthful enthusiasm was infectious, and they easily filled the dining space with their energy. The audience was quiet as they performed the Muslim dances with the required emotional distance and regal decorum; then they made the audience cheerful with their exciting fiesta dances: sayaw sa bangko, binasuan, pastores, and the perennial favorite, tinikling!

The exciting sayaw sa bangko.

Binasuan, similar to Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

Narra was enthralled! Her eyes were glued to the dancers the whole time. Narra could normally eat by herself already, but that night, my mom had to feed her, delivering periodic spoonfuls as the show progressed. My little girl couldn't sit down!  The rest of us adults, got to enjoy our food: Almondigas soup, ensalada, palabok, bacalao, classic adobo, pinakbet, and beef kaldereta. 

My mom trying to feed Narra.

Narra, mesmerized with the dancers.

By the end of the show, the dancers posed with diners. My dad and my daughter excitedly ran to the dance floor.  Narra was just in high spirits. Our guest for the night, Father Manny, was likewise energized. He was videotaping the dances, and he even participated in the tinikling when volunteers from the audience were invited to give the dance a try. 

Lolo and Apo posing with the dancers.

Our guest for the evening Fr. Manny Serranilla from Canada.

When one thinks of a kid-friendly place, an elegant restaurant in a 19th century building isn't usually what comes to mind. But with a dinner show featuring Filipino dances, it's a different story.  Our folk dances are colorful, vivid and vibrant - alive and exciting, charming and inviting.  Performed by energetic dancers, they have a disarming effect. Imagine this: we were stuck in nasty traffic, it was raining, and there was a procession going towards San Agustin church! Malas naman! I thought to myself how unlucky our timing was. I carried Narra, walking nervously on slippery cobblestone streets making my way to Barbara's, only to discover she only had one shoe on!...the other one was left in the car! I had to go back in the rain for that other shoe and my mood became as gloomy as the weather.  That night had all the makings of a terrible evening. But by the time the show was over, we were in good spirits. There's nothing like a good round of tinikling to snap one out of a bad mood.  I was infused with the fiesta spirit, and the procession that irritated me just an hour earlier, already looked to me like a cause of celebration! What luck that my daughter gets to witness a procession of devotees braving the rain in the name of faith.  What luck that she sees this historic part of town abuzz with activity, alive!

I was thrilled that Narra loved watching the performances that night. I love our folk dances, and so does my mother, and her mother before her. And that night, on Dec. 8, we got to introduce another generation to the joys of Philippine folk dance.

Barbara's Official Website:

http://www.barbarasfood.com/events.htm

Related Posts:

Nick's Cafe Filipino Merienda Buffet

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/12/kid-friendly-places-tower-inns-filipino.html

Swiss Choco Cake from Becky's Kitchen For Guijo's 3rd Month

Guijo's 3rd Month Cake: Swiss Choco
from Becky's Kitchen

I use the 19th of every month as an excuse to hold a small gathering in celebration of Guijo's monthly milestones. I look forward to buying a cake for the occasion, a scheduled indulgence, really. For Guijo's 3rd month, I invited my college barkada over to our house.  These are my Freshman Block L-19 classmates from school year 1994-95 at DLSU half a lifetime ago. So I tried to figure out what kind of cake would suit the situation, and I thought of getting the Swiss Chocolate Cake from Becky's Kitchen!

Becky's Kitchen along Zobel Roxas.

Its proximity to DLSU makes Becky's Kitchen a part of the collective memory of many Lasallians...ok maybe not everyone, but at least the segment of the population who take the Pablo Ocampo/ Vito Cruz route to school. It's a familiar landmark, a beautifully maintained old house, made of wood, with ventanillas and grills done in the old style, a stately corner house that speaks of better times for the area, when the neighborhood was home to Manila's old rich.  I love going to this bake shop to pick up cakes. I love the wide double doors, the floor tiles, and high ceilings. The restored old house I live in now is similarly structured, and for a moment I let my mind imagine I am back in time. It is a pleasant errand, from my residence nearby, to Becky's, and back again, from one old house to another - with my prized purchase kept safe and perfect during the short ride.  The Swiss Choco Cake is a decadent creation, layers of chocolate sponge cake with a super sweet crumble filling reminiscent of Violet Crumble and Red Ribbon's Coffee Crunch. To make it even sweeter, the cake is generously coated with white icing. 

My guests (l-r): Ian and Elaine (pregnant),
Diane, Pierre and Joy (also pregnant), Tetet

The cake was so sweet we only had a thin sliver each, haha, at least for the first round! Our afternoon merienda stretched from 3 pm to 9 pm, which meant ample time to eat leisurely and keep coming back to the cake for a second, and even a third helping. By night's end there was still half a cake left even if we nibbled at it all evening. What great mileage from an awesome cake! For the price of 465 pesos, it's value for money! I'm looking forward to the next event where I can bring something from Becky's Kitchen.

Treasures of Las Piñas: The Bamboo Organ, The Boys Choir, and a Filipino Christmas

The famous Bamboo Organ.

There it was. The Bamboo Organ. One of the more beautiful reminders of the colonial encounter - the meeting of Europe and Asia embodied in an instrument.  Engineering know-how and musicology from the West combined with the local craftsman's innate musicality and intimate knowledge of indigenous wood.  Oliver took me to a Christmas Concert held at the famous church in Las Piñas so we could marvel at two of the area's musical icons:  The Bamboo Organ and the Las Piñas Boys Choir.  European compositions were being played on the organ, and Christmas carols, even in German, were being sung by the adorable boys.  Foreign material as interpreted soulfully by the Filipino artist.  The concert we watched was entitled Silent Night and it was the type of concert that moves you to be still.

Posing with the Las Piñas Boys Choir. Little did I know
that I was carrying my own tiny boy in my belly.

This was Christmas last year. I was just suspecting I was pregnant. I bought a pregnancy test kit, and  was disappointed when the results came out negative. I really felt pregnant, I was sure. It wouldn't be until two weeks later, when I took a second test that my intuition would be  proven right. Sometimes, the heart, or the gut, knows ahead and with conviction, what science can only affirm later.  So there I was at the concert, with pregnancy's gift of heightened senses. I was seeing, hearing, and feeling everything - the church, the music, the lighting and the decor - and I saw connections and creations - of beauty and balance, history and harmony. I was in love. With my husband for bringing me here to Las Piñas, for knowing me well enough to anticipate that I would love a night like this. With my country for everything good it is capable of, past, present, and future. A night of revelation, in the old center of town.

The altar decorated with abaca lanterns.

I marveled at the Church's altar. At how finely crafted it was, brick on brick, in delicate layers, from the floor to the ceiling - ah, the ceiling, it was another awesome sight: supported by beautiful stone arches, and done in bamboo. How many hours must have gone into selecting only the best pieces of bamboo, to be perfectly positioned, side by side, to cover the entire length of the church.  I've seen many churches in my travels, and craned my neck upwards countless times to admire painted ceilings and domes - but never like this. I have never been awed by simplicity like this - how could one be made to stare so long, at one material, done in one color, with only one thing happening: it's just bamboo lined up - but how I marveled at it, at its grand expanse.

The church's bamboo ceiling.

Then there were the grand chandeliers made of capiz shells, and festooned with garlands made of abaca. The bamboo, the capiz, and the abaca, all gave me a strong sense of place. I am here. I am home. I am no longer a young graduate  student lost on a lonely Sunday in some European city, desperately seeking comfort in a cold old church, dreaming of home. Now, the situation is reversed. I am in a warm (nay! hot!) church in the tropics, but also no longer young, already wife and mother, reminiscing about my  days of freedom in cold Europe. Watching a concert, even a silent one, really makes the mind dance.

Capiz chandeliers.

The church on any normal day, is already a sight to behold, but at Christmas? Even more so! I loved the hanging abaca lanterns against a backdrop of centuries-old grills and stained glass.  I loved the elegant garlands and understated Christmas lights above the windows' deep stone frames.  

I loved the parols, also done in abaca. Floating silently from the ceilings. What gracious solemnity. I often associate Christmas with gaiety, and Filipino decorations with loud colors to the point of being garish and gaudy- but that night in Las Piñas church was a silent night, for the ears, and also for the eyes. And most importantly for the spirit. I wonder if the music of that night imprinted on my son, and helped create his calming demeanor.  My son has that kind of energy signature, his star shines like an abaca parol, big and grand, beautiful and glorious, but peculiarly quiet and subtle. Just there in the background, while being there at the center. It is part of my baby boy's appeal, his unobtrusive, gentle magnetism. 

The church after the concert.

I write about last year's concert now, because it is Christmas once again. From Christmas to Christmas, things change, sometimes for the worse - like when loved ones die - sometimes for the better - like when you welcome a precious baby boy into the family. This year, more than at any other Christmas in my life, do I feel the passing of generations. It's been quite a year of changes, of funerals and baptisms. And I thought of this old church built in solid stone, a building that houses an eternal Christmas, where carols from foreign lands will always sound strangely Filipino when played on a bamboo organ; where the same Silent Night will always be sung by choirboys to the ever-changing generations of churchgoers who people the pews beneath the hanging abaca stars. 

Kid-Friendly Places: Nick's Cafe Filipino Merienda Buffet

Tower Inn's Selection of Kakanin.

There are times when I find myself seeking comfort food, and I want to have my meal in my comfort zone. On days when I bring both my children to the doctor's for their regular check-up and vaccinations, I also schedule a trip to a merienda buffet right after. I tell my 2 helpful yayas Nene and Rollie to save space in their tummies as we would go to Tower Inn Makati for their all-you-can-eat Filipino food at their restaurant called Nick's Cafe.  I have many reasons why I love coming back to this place.

The first reason: I get to have my fill of Pinoy favorites. Typical merienda fare include classic rice cakes or kakanin like puto, kutsinta, palitaw, maja blanca, and biko. There's also cassava cake, banana fritters, and turon.  Another section of the buffet has hot offerings like arroz caldo, dinuguan, and pansit. Other savory items include tokwa't baboy, lumpia, and pork siomai. I want my kids to grow up knowing, liking, and loving! Filipino dishes. Narra, like any other toddler who's becoming more independent, likes getting to choose from the available selection. She's also fascinated with the presentation of hot food on traditional clay pots or palayok and the clay charcoal stoves they sit on. 

Arroz Caldo, Dinuguan, and Tokwa't Baboy.

A second reason is the ambience. I like coming here for a relaxing time away from the crowd. It is quiet and laid back. There's plenty of space for two strollers parked next to our table without being in the way of other patrons. And since this is the restaurant of a hotel, and the staff are steeped in the the ethos of hospitality, everyone is much nicer, from the guards outside assisting with the parking and opening doors, to the servers at our table. One can stay for an extended period without feeling the pressure to leave - I hate feeling rushed in busy restaurants!  The afternoon buffet is open from 2 pm to 6 pm on weekdays, so I get to "park" my entourage here while doing a few other errands. I can do my banking just next door, and there's also a cool shop for baby-toddler stuff called Shop Familia a stone's throw away.  I can take my time browsing through the shop as I am able to leave my babies with their yayas who are comfortable with being left behind since they have a buffet to slowly work their way through.  An added bonus for me is the proximity of the place to the beauty salon my mom owns, which is just down the street. I give her a call and she's there in a flash and able to join us for some maximum togetherness.

Afternoon merienda with my mom and daughter:
3 generations of rice cake eaters.

A third reason is the sensible price. For 150 pesos per person, the buffet is declared "super-sulit", or great value for money! by our household staff.  They enjoy coming here because there's food they like served in abundance without the queuing and frenzy found in usual buffet restaurants.  It's a good way to give them a calming and much-needed breather in between errands - without breaking the bank. Senior citizen discounts are honored so my mom gets to pay even less while small kids get to eat for free, so Narra didn't get charged at all!  

Narra enjoying food she chose by herself.
Yaya Nene in the background, doing the same. 

So what makes this place kid friendly? We were given a high chair immediately (a very good sign - this is the first gesture that makes me feel welcome in any food establishment). The hotel is handicapped accessible, which also means it is stroller-friendly. The dining area is laid out in such a way that even if there are other diners, you can find a secluded spot somewhere.  It is relatively quiet, which helps a lot when you have a sleeping newborn. The place offers a relaxed and safe venue for introducing kids to a wide variety of Filipino delicacies. Coming here on a regular day is a pleasant undertaking, fuss-free, and simply rewarding.  The most rewarding part: Narra was eating by herself, behaving well, and enjoying her food - plus, she added new Pinoy words to her vocabulary such as kutsinta, palitaw, and dinuguan! I hope these become her comfort food too in years to come.

For details on Nick's Cafe, visit Tower Inn's Website:

http://www.towerinnmakati.com/

Related Posts on Kid-Friendly Restos:

Ice Cream Night at Swensen's

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/10/ice-cream-night-at-swensens-reflections.html

The Frazzled Cook in Mandaluyong

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/kid-friendly-restos-frazzled-cook-in.html

A Conversation With My Belly, Postpartum

9 mos. pregnant with Guijo. 2011

While executing a back bend during yoga class, I felt my shirt slide to expose a part of my belly. My first instinct was to try to pull my shirt up to hide my grotesque flesh, but my hands were pressed to the mat, carrying the weight  of my body. I felt trapped and in a slight state of panic. Then the instructor said, "Let go", "Open your mind and body", "Ease into the pose"... and I dutifully listened. "Stay there for five full breaths", she said. And I complied. And in those five breaths, I found myself thinking beautiful thoughts of gratitude directed at my body. I gave my belly a silent thank you speech. 

Thank you dear belly, for housing my most precious offspring -  my daughter Narra first, then my son, Guijo. Thank you for cushioning them with your protective layers of womb, and fluid, and fat. Thank you for adjusting your skin perfectly in tune with their needs: stretching just enough to give them room; but remaining tight enough to give them support.  Thank you for your contractions which delivered my children into the light. You generously expanded yourself to your very limits so that I may fulfill my destiny and become mother.  You quietly, gently retracted back to normal when the task was done, so I may lay my babies on your soft surface as I nourish them with my milk. 

4 mos. pregnant with Narra. Punta De Lima, Laguna. 2009.

I used to view your stretch marks as battle scars - but what an awful, violent metaphor this is! Giving birth is not a story of war. Rather, it is  a tale of cooperation, when everyone unites to protect the most glorious gift of life.  Your stretch marks dear belly, are my historic markers of peace - celebrating my milestones, of those moments when I accepted my vocation to nurture the lives entrusted to me.  

And how kindly I was treated by the world when you were fully on display as a womb with child. Strangers felt welcome to strike a conversation, and we received an abundance of pleasantries - in word and deed. Doors were held open, seats were given up, everyone rushed to carry our bags or push our carts - it is as though the world conspired to help us carry the weight of propagating humankind.  When you were in full bloom, you had the power to disarm even the most disenchanted folk. I've seen stern faces turn soft in your presence, I remember a surly security guard doing a routine airport check transform from strict-and-brisk to kind-and-gentle in a heartbeat! 

7 mos. pregnant. Pearl Farm, Davao. 2011.

I thank you for letting me experience the world in a whole new way. Like when we went swimming in the sea and I had to discover a new sense of balance - it was like being introduced to buoyancy for the first time. In fact, you pushed me to re-learn everything - from the most basic things: to breathe, to eat, to sleep, to walk, to sit. You forced me to be humble, to listen to my body and to follow its dictates. I was kindest to my body in your presence. I ate well, and stayed away from smoke and dirt; and other poisonous elements (like anger and regret). 

Pregnant, I felt connected to Mother Earth as I never have before. I could feel the pulse of Pacha Mama resonating in my body, through you, my awakened belly. You were like a portal to other worlds.  I saw the world creating the world - chains of life-giving power: the earth bearing trees; the trees bearing fruit; fruit bearing seeds; seeds falling to earth; so the earth can bear trees... and on and on, I saw it all, how pregnant the world is, constantly. Is it just me, or do pregnant women really enjoy a heightened awareness, when all our senses open to the world more than ever before?

So I say to my belly: after all these gifts you've given me, what right have I to be ashamed of you? How could my first instinct be to hide you now? And think of you as grotesque? In my vanity, you have been transmogrified from "bearer-of-life" to "bringer-of-shame".  I am sorry, my belly. My mind has bad habits I've yet to break.  I was conditioned to think of beauty in terms of flat bellies covered by flawless skin, so much so that I felt compelled to hide you with my hands, even at the risk of me collapsing to the floor. My apologies. You are part of what I am now, for I wouldn't be a mother had you not been stretched to house my children.  I accept you for the mother's belly that you are. And I will take care of you, and nurture you gently back to the best shape you could possibly be in, by strengthening your muscles; and slathering soothing balms on your stressed surface; and getting you nourished with good stuff from within. And next time you peek through my clothes at yoga class, I won't lose composure in embarrassed panic! For we are a work in progress, you and I, companions on the road to recovery,  and that's a good, good thing. 

                           

Fontana Water Park and What I Learned From My 12-Year Old Nephew

Kuya Joaquin carrying Narra

There are some places that develop and improve over time, while there are others that just deteriorate. Fortunately, Fontana Water Park in Pampanga proved to be the former. When I first saw this Water Park a decade ago, I was quite impressed with it back then. Now, years later, it's even bigger and has more attractions! A decade ago, I was in my early twenties and full of thrill-seeking and adventurous drive. In the past, whenever I went to a theme park I headed to the biggest and most exciting attractions. The higher, the faster, the riskier a ride, the more I wanted it!  Now, I am in my mid-thirties, and already a mother of two tiny beings still in their diapers. Nature must have designed me to develop new instincts. I am now a nervous wreck. When I saw Fontana Water Park again, I saw it as an overwhelmingly big place full of potential dangers.  

Oliver, Mama, and I with Narra and Guijo at the entrance to the Fontana Water Park

Earlier this month, the Socorro - Carsi Cruz branch of my husband's family took advantage of the long weekend by renting 3 villas at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Pampanga. As typical Filipino extended families go, we were quite a big group: 2 grandparents, 9 aunties and uncles; 11 nephews and nieces. While the adults played at the casino, the kids went to Fontana's Water Park. Guess where I went? I just had to go to the Water Park to make sure Narra would be ok. My husband and mother-in-law escorted us only until the entrance, then they went back to join the rest of the adults. There I was, the only aunt with a bunch of kids.

Ruby (aka Yaya Nene) taking Guijo's new stroller for a spin on the Water Park's grounds

I brought Guijo with me, and his yaya Nene pushed him around in his stroller. This is part of my "training" period, for myself and for our yaya. I have plans of traveling abroad in the near future, so I have to practice the art of touring with two tots. The only way to gain expertise is through experience which is why I take both my babies with me every chance I get. I'm hoping "inconvenient arrangements", when experienced frequently enough, can become "convenient arrangements" over time. Thank God Guijo is proving to be an easy baby to lug around, he slept through the entire affair and didn't add to my list of things to worry about!    

The Pirate Ship, a great section for young children

One of the first attractions inside the park is the Pirate Ship. Located close to the entrance, this shallow pool is perfect for small children.  I was quite happy to stay with Narra there. It was manageable. But I knew that I was being a cowardly hen by staying put. The park was huge, and there were more attractions waiting to be discovered. Narra's cousins were already at the big Wave Pool and I was depriving her of precious bonding time with them. So I moved my entourage out of the comfortable Pirate Ship, albeit reluctantly. With Narra and Guijo in tow, we headed deeper into the park. Oh wow! What an expansive terrifying terrain!

The Lazy River is a familiar attraction, I've seen it before, but it looks better now, perhaps because of the lush vegetation. The trees have grown more roots, and that adds to the appeal of the place. It also helps that the signage and barriers seem to have just received a fresh coat of paint. I love how the park feels well maintained.  There are also new rides, like the Three Giant Aqua Thrill Rides, an imposing, towering structure composed of spiraling giant slides a couple of stories high. 

The long Lazy River's start-off point

The Giant Aqua Thrill Rides

I was happy to stay in the shallow section of the Wave Pool and to just keep Narra entertained with the tiny little fountains and small slides. But then, my 12-year old nephew Joaquin, approached us. "Tita Nikki", he said, "Can we take Narra to the Water Cottage? It's fun, I'm sure she'll enjoy it".  Oh gosh, I was unsure about leaving Guijo, but his yaya Nene assured me he was happily sleeping and they were comfortable in their precious shady spot under a tree. She didn't want to move him and disturb his peaceful sleep (mental note to myself: I really like this yaya).

So off we went to the Water Cottage which had 4 slides: 2 for kids, and 2 for adults. Joaquin accompanied Narra on several runs on the kiddie slides, which she enjoyed immensely. Then Joaquin put me on the spot: "Tita Nikki, can I take Narra on the big slide? I assure you it's safe". Er, em, ah, that slide up there? The one we can reach only after climbing several flights of slippery steel stair steps? Oh gosh, I was so unsure, and Joaquin (who is such an intelligent boy, and I mean in terms of Emotional Intelligence too) sensed my hesitation. "I'll go first Tita, then maybe you can go too, so you can gauge if Narra is ready for it, you can ride with her on your lap". Here's the thing, I trusted Joaquin's judgement. I did. Ever since I met him when I was just dating his Uncle Oliver I was already impressed with his maturity.  So I decided to go for it! We went up carefully, I was clutching the hand rails tightly with one hand, and Narra's arm with the other. I watched Joaquin disappear down the spiraling yellow slide, then it was our turn! I had Narra on my lap, and my hand on the push bar at the top of the slide. It was time to push off and let go. I was still hesitating. "Tita it's not that steep", Joaquin shouted encouragingly. 

Narra, Joaquin, and I, before going off to the Water Cottage where I re-learned to have FUN!

It felt like a scene from the movie Finding Nemo, I am Marlin holding on to the whale's tongue and Dory is encouraging me to let go. "How do you know nothing bad is going to happen?" Marlin asks Dory. "I don't!" says Dory. "It's Time to Let Go!" she shouts. And Marlin closes his eyes, hopes for the best, and lets go! They drop down the back of the whale's throat only to be thrust back out of the whale's body, shooting up to the sky through the blow hole. Wooohoooo!!! That's how I felt when we slid from side to side down the spiraling yellow slide. 

Joaquin asked if he can take Narra for a second run, just the two of them. I let them. He was right. It was not a steep slide. I was nervous as they made their way up. What if they slip? What if she looks for me and gets scared? What if...what if...? - Oh I was still unsure. "Trust me" Dory says to Marlin many times in Finding Nemo. Bottom line, I trusted Joaquin. He's an MVP champion baseball player circulating in international league circuits - he's in better physical shape than I am for crying out loud! I remembered myself at 12, when I was into gymnastics, and volleyball, and swimming, and how I carried my own toddler cousins too, in pools and parks, and on all sorts of rides and slides...and how my aunts and uncles trusted me with their kids. It's my turn now, to do the trusting. So I watched them slide down, and Narra was ecstatic! And it hit me! What if Narra is a cool kid and I am turning her into a nerd with all my fears? Do I really want that for her?  Maybe she's better off learning to be a kid from her cousins. For surely, I no longer know how to be one!!! 

Isabel, Sophia, Narra, and Joaquin at the Wave Pool

Then I remembered my father. My ultra-cool, super fun, responsibly risky dad, Walter. He never stopped knowing how to enjoy life with a childlike enthusiasm. He was in the military, a Navy pilot, which meant he knew about boats and planes, and he approached his training with a sense of play - as a chance to manipulate cool gadgets - a plane! a ship! He was also an underwater diver 50 years ago! when diving gear still looked primitive.  How did he raise me? To be adventurous. He'd take me to the deep end of the pool and encourage me to jump, and he'd always catch me. He'd instruct me to exhale, and drop down until I reach the bottom of a deep pool, and push the floor to return back up, all in one breath, and he'd be there the whole time, his reassuring presence giving me confidence to try things on my own until I become confident in my own skill. He taught me to do handstands by doing them himself at the age of 40! We'd do it side by side against the wall, making the white walls dirty with our shoes. And when I took up ice skating in the 1990's, he bought hockey skates and joined me for practice sessions at the old rink in SM Mega Mall, even if he was already in his late 50's. 

It's funny how Joaquin reminded me of my dad. How could 2 people, decades apart in age, be so alike?Because in my young nephew is a maturity beyond his years; and in my dad is a childlike wonder that was never knocked off him by life's many brutal blows. Both my dad and Joaquin have the precious secret combination of good judgement and a sense of adventure - these two ingredients combined is the recipe for FUN! They know how to have fun! 

That morning at Fontana Water Park my 12-year old nephew coached me gently and patiently in the art of having fun. His presence was reassuring and I relied on his judgement. He taught me to relax, to trust myself, to trust Narra, to trust another person to handle Narra. Right after that exhilirating slide in the Water Cottage, we returned to the Wave Pool to join the rest of the kids. Narra wanted to be with her caring Ates: Sophia, Julia, Bianca, and Sabel who were all good to her. I let Narra go. I allowed her to play without me hovering around. I stayed a good distance, with my camera trained on her, just so I can keep watch. The camera allowed me to zoom in on her, to focus on her, while allowing her the freedom to discover on her own, what kind of kid she is. And when the kids wanted to go to the deep end of the Wave Pool, I put down my camera, and joined them. I wanted to relax, but I also needed to constantly be alert and responsible, I am a parent now after all and kids must be under constant adult supervision.  I let Narra ride the waves in her cousins' arms. I was just nearby, also riding the waves, going with the flow, still on alert but with a difference this time. Like my father, I was being a parent and actually having fun!

Narra surrounded by cool cousins: Sophia, Bianca, Joaquin and Julia

For info on Fontana Water Park, visit:
http://www.fontanaleisureparks.com/fontanaweb/recreation/recreation.html#