A Filipino Baptismal Reception at Adarna Food and Culture

Front row: My Aunt Eva with baby Juliana. Sophia. Ieli with baby Guiana.
Back row: My cousins Barbie, Debbie and Angela - with my son Guijo.

It was the 25th of February. A day when our country commemorates the anniversary of the People Power EDSA Revolution.  It was a fitting day to hold a family milestone - the Christening of the latest addition to my mother's side of the family, the Serranillas. We celebrated the baptism of my niece, precious little baby Guiana Cevennes.  The baptismal reception was held in a venue that is as nationalistic as they come: Adarna Food and Culture Restaurant in Quezon City.  Attending that party that day made me feel very happy to be Filipino.

My uncle, Fr. Manny Serranilla, documenting the event.

Upon entering the restaurant, there's a nice little courtyard with no less than the Philippine Flag proudly displayed on one of the walls. My balikbayan uncle, Fr. Manny Serranilla, paid homage to our bandila by singing Bayan Ko as he videotaped the environs (Yes, I come from THAT kind of family - the karaoke (80's), videoke (90's), magic mic (2000's) song-crazy family...and we dance a lot too).  He's like that, my uncle. He sings with fervor, and not just an excerpt - but the whole complete song with matching crescendo, vibrato, and eye-closing climax. 

The venue: Adarna Food and Culture's Dining Area.

What a charming venue it is in a Pinoy-shabby-chic way. I've eaten at Adarna before, when Oliver's Ateneo high school class held one of it's reunions there. It's the type of restaurant with so many interesting knick knacks on display that even if you've seen it before, you feel like seeing things for the first time again, even on your second visit. There are many period pieces, memorabilia, clippings, ads and posters from bygone eras; There are old photographs on the walls, antique lampshades, precious heirloom crystal chandeliers; old hardwood tables and chairs, and floors. There are windows done in the old style; and ornately carved wooden trims - on the ceilings - partitions - windows - and walls.  Entering the dining area felt a lot like walking into an old family home, as though we were at a relative's. That's because the venue is an old house-turned-restaurant.  

The buffet set-up's blue and white china.

How delightful it was to use blue and white china, with that special patina that only comes with age and frequent use. I loved how the buffet was laid out on crocheted table cloths. It reminded me of my grandmother's memento at home,  a huge mantle she crocheted by hand. My grandma came from an era when talent in home economics was a woman's source of pride. The food too, reminded me of my lola - especially the sigarillas salad (my lola grew her own vegetables and she liked me because I loved eating them).  Lola hailed from Bicol, and one of the dishes was Bicol Express made with nice whole pieces of sili which I gobbled up enthusiastically even if I'm not usually a "spice girl". I also liked the piasok, a beef recipe from the Southern Philippines; and the desert, fried kesong puti with langka poured with syrup...oh gosh, I went for seconds (and thirds, and fourths).  How refreshing it was to have Filipino food that deviated from the standard classics, for a change.

Adarna's Sari-Sari Store for some free goodies.

I'd say Adarna is very kid-friendly.  In one part of the resto, they recreated a "sari-sari store" with free candies in nice old glass jars.  Guests can have their fill of goodies for free. Narra was in heaven! It wasn't just the candy per se, but the entire experience of getting to pick a treat,  hearing the grinding of lid on glass grooves, and dipping one's hand through the wide opening. The candies they put on display were nostalgia-inducing. There were harder-to-find homegrown brands found only in your usual neighborhood corner stores. Even the weathered bench in front of the sari-sari store seemed authentic, as though it was just plucked from some kanto.  

Narra trying out the rocking horse.

Adarna has a very relaxed vibe. One feels encouraged to lounge around, to loiter, to read (there are books to leaf through, and framed articles to read on the walls), and even to tinker with things. Narra spied an old wooden rocking horse, and I was only too happy to tell her, "go ahead, give it a try".  Narra had many questions about what things were for, and I obliged her with explanations.  She's been recently acquainted with Disney's Tinkerbell and Princess Ariel, and both these mythical heroines have insatiable curiosity for human inventions and gadgets.  Oh wow, I realize how many things that are so familiar for people of my generation, are so foreign to our kids.

Collection of antique implements and household gadgets.

On display in one of the walls were old everyday things, like a poso (water pump), or kudkuran (coconut grater), and even the palanggana (wash basin). I remember hanging out with our labandera (clothes washer) at the back of our house.  I was about 3 years old, and I'd sit on a piece of hollow block, and I'd also do my fair share of pagkusot (srubbing) and pagpiga (wringing).  Later, I would get a bottle cap or tansan, and domesticate my Barbie doll by making her do laundry using her own tiny little wash basin. Ah, the 1980s. Good old days.

My cousin Meg, Myself, Narra and Guijo, my mom Sonia, and dad Walter.
Behind: Yaya Jennilyn and my sis Marion.

That family gathering at Adarna took me back to the 1980's, the happy years of my childhood, when the country was in turmoil.  I remember our family praying countless rosaries, and my mother lighting countless candles in front of the many saints at Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila - throughout Martial Law, and especially so during the EDSA Revolution when my father's safety was in God's hands. My dad had to make the most important decision of his military career: would he side with Marcos or Cory?  This time 26 years ago, February of 1986, we relied on faith for strength, and on family for solidarity as we worried for my father and wondered about his fate in uncertain times. I looked around Adarna house that Saturday afternoon, February 25 of 2012, I saw the same faces, of my aunts and uncles, the cousins I grew up with, with new additions of course - the in-laws who married into the family - and the babies!  I felt the strength of family ties, and the importance of being anchored in faith.  The significance of a Christening isn't lost on me.  We need to do this, to go through the motions of coming together to welcome this little girl, because we are family, a Filipino family, and that means a lot of things - it means being there for each other when times get tough.

My cuz-in-law Jen, and the celebrant, Guiana Cevennes.

I look at my niece Guiana, the daughter of my cousin John.  Like me, Guiana's also a premie, born on the 7th month of gestation.  Like me, she too stayed in an incubator for weeks, and came out into the world as this tiny little thing.  Those who saw me as a baby, my parents and aunts/uncles all say I was like her, too.  Oh how excited I was to see her for the first time.  She seems fragile and delicate, but she is a survivor, a fighter, triumphant and strong. She reminds me of the Philippines, and our fragile democracy, induced in EDSA.   Adarna Food and Culture is that kind of restaurant. It makes one think of home and the past; of the country and its history.  Through food,  and furnishings, it makes you happy to be Filipino.  Welcome Guiana, to our faith, to our family, to our country, and our culture.  

Kid Friendly Lunch of Wings & Ribs at Nuvali's Solenad 2

Ribs, chicken fingers, fries, mac n' cheese, and dirty rice.

Visiting Nuvali this weekend made us feel like tourists.  We've been to Nuvali many times before, but it was our first time to explore the more recently developed phase of Solenad 2.  It reminded both Oliver and I of factory outlets in the U.S. because of the wide space, the open parking, the single-story buildings, and the sprawling lay-out.  Even the lovely drive along the SLEX helped create the feeling of approaching a factory outlet complex off an interstate highway in the U.S.   The composition of stores and restaurants also felt somewhat reminiscent of suburban community centers in North America. There's a decent-sized Robinson's Supermarket and a True Value hardware store in one building.  Right next to it is a flat building with a row of restaurants. It was time for lunch, and our hungry group of 5 adults and 2 tots were happy to find a table at Chubby's Rib Shack which shared the same restaurant space with Buffalo's Wings n' Things. We're going American today. It's not the healthiest diet in the world, but we want our kids to grow up exposed to a wide variety of food, and Oliver is appreciative of a good barbecue flavor. Ribs and Wings for lunch, hooray!!

 We're all excited to dig in (not baby Guijo though, he's just posing).

There are a number of factors that make this relaxed resto kid-friendly.  The paper plates, plastic cups, and plastic cutlery gives diners license to be informal. Though I usually find disposable tableware too flimsy and inconvenient to use (and I worry about garbage creation), in this particular situation, it worked out quite well in adding an "outdoor bbq" feel to the dining experience.  There's a big pack of extra-strong folded napkins on the table, which can be read as an invitation for diners to go ahead, and use our hands to eat. Ribs, wings, and fries are finger food after all! And they were finger-licking good! 

Independent Narra now cutting her own food.

Dining out is often challenging with kids and yayas in tow because the adults take turns in feeding the kids and eating, and this can make for awkward moments. Oliver often eats fast so he can take Guijo from his yaya, while I feed Narra and myself at the same time so her yaya can enjoy her food. With finger food like this, however, everyone got to eat at the same time! What a rare occurrence! Rice was served in individual cups and the ulam could be eaten with bare hands, and this situation was conducive for one-hand feeding, so carrying baby Guijo while eating was feasible.  Narra pretty much fed herself. She excitedly offered fries to everyone. She's forbidden to touch knives, but today, under close supervision, we allowed her to use the plastic knife to cut her food, and she was so thrilled!  

Sampler trio: Barbecue, Spicy, and Garlic Parmesan Wings.

We ordered a trio sampler of wings, which came in classic barbecue, spicy, and garlic parmesan flavors (P349 for 3 baskets with 6 wings each). We also ordered ribs (P349 per order), chicken fingers (P139 for 5 good-sized and dense chicken strips), and a variety of side dishes like fries (P29), mac and cheese, coleslaw, and "dirty" rice (P34 each).  The good thing about ordering the sampler is that it accommodates varying tastes.  Spicy-food-lovers and spicy-food-avoiders alike were happy. 

My happy toddler post-lunch, well-fed and ready for a stroll.

Lunch at this resto was straightforward and fuss-free, which is a very good thing for frazzled parents like me.  Afterwards, we felt like we just had a nice family picnic. It felt very much like the outing we were hoping for, a welcome break from the usual lunch in an air-conditioned mall in Manila.  With stomachs full, we were ready for a stroll and a bit more exploration of Nuvali's invigorating green surroundings.    

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

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

Kid Friendly Restos: The Frazzled Cook in Mandaluyong

I am now on the look out for kid-friendly restaurants where I can bring my kids and not feel like I am bothering other patrons. I'm still learning the art of relaxing while still being a parent on constant alert.  Fortunately, there are heaven-sent places out there where decent adult food is served in a setting that's also entertaining for kids.  The Frazzled Cook is one such place. It is a house-turned-resto along Luna Mencias street, close to Shaw Boulevard, in a lovely part of Mandaluyong where beautiful old houses on large cuts of land have been converted into business establishments like art galleries, antique furniture shops, pre-schools, bakeshops and restaurants. We stumbled upon this place when our aunt Tita Boots died and her wake was held nearby. Driving by the converted  house, we were intrigued by the markings on the windows that read: "I am a Restaurant". 

From the name of the place alone, busy moms can already feel an affinity with the people behind the resto. Frazzled. I know the feeling. As a sleep-deprived mother of a newborn and toddler, and the wife of an on-the-go husband, I find myself perpetually grasping for equanimity.  So I was so pleasantly surprised to feel relaxed at The Frazzled Cook. I recommend it as a kid friendly place.  Upon entering, one already gets a sense of the whimsical and playful approach of whoever did the interiors. The booth closest to the door features a mural, and a wall-full of waving good-luck cats.  

There are a lot of things to look at: books, toys, and collectibles on the shelves; chandeliers, drop lights and trinkets on the ceilings; pictures, paintings, and murals on the walls; mismatched chairs and tables as well as mismatched china and other tableware. The furniture look welcomingly weathered and worn, in a shabby chic way, making a parent feel that kids won't hurt them with a scratch or a spill.  Narra was clearly entertained. Right next to our table was shelf with children's books, including a fun pop-up version of the timeless classic, Alice in Wonderland. The eclectic collection of furnishings and novelties made me feel a bit like Alice myself.  The ambience is reminiscent of Cafe Juanita in Pasig, and the old Fat Michael's in Makati. 

When we arrived, were immediately given a high chair for Narra, and that's a plus! Some restos simply don't have high chairs, and that always makes me feel as though my kid is unwelcome.  A high chair is an investment made by restauranteurs who count kids as part of their clientele. I sometimes have to guess whether it is appropriate to bring my kids to certain places.  The laid back attitude of the people at The Frazzled Cook reassured me (they didn't seem frazzled at all). 

The resto's menu is another kid-friendly artifact. It has a lot of quirky illustrations and is made of a sturdy, stain-free material - not the flimsy pages your kid can easily rip apart. Narra pretended to read it like a storybook.

And when her food arrived, the resto passed my true test for being a kid-friendly place: Narra ate her food without being coaxed! Her soup was pureed asparagus with chunks of white cheese swimming about, and she asked of the floating white things: "what's that mama?" - "cheese", I replied, and this brought a smile to her lips. She also liked the pita wraps with cottage cheese, rolled small enough for toddler hands.  

Next time we're in the area, I'd love to eat there again. It's a great laid-back destination where a frazzled mom like me can come with my kids and actually get to relax.

For more info, visit their website:
www.thefrazzledcook.com

Ice Cream Night at Swensen's: Reflections on Giving Your Child the Cherry on Top of your Sundae

I was excited to hear the news that Swensen's recently opened in Manila (Ground Floor, South Wing, SM Mall of Asia). Yay! I lived in Singapore for 5 years and I visited Swensen's often for quick pick-me-ups when I was feeling blue. Last night, it was raining and I've been stuck in the house for 3 days after having my wisdom tooth pulled out, so I felt the need for ice cream! My husband kindly obliged, and Narra was quick to get dressed after dinner. Mall of Asia was a few minute's drive from home, so we were there in a flash.  When we got down from the car, Narra hopped and skipped all the way to Swensen's.  She was excited to see the picture standee of a giant bowl of ice cream at the entrance, as well as the pictures of ice cream creations mounted on the walls.

Swensen's Selection of Kid's Sundaes

What to choose? What to choose? Swensen's menu was a delightful feast for the eyes - fun and colorful - it made me feel giddy good.  The kid's section was particularly cheerful. I let Narra choose her own ice cream, she took a quick look at the kid's page and pointed resolutely at her chosen concoction. She's not one to agonize over a decision, this kid knows what she wants, fast!

Narra ordered "Mr. San's babies" (P115), composed of two mini scoops of ice cream with whipped cream and sprinkles, on a bed of bananas with strawberry syrup.  Narra told me she was the strawberry scoop, and her baby brother Guijo was the vanilla scoop, so this bowl really was "Mama Nikki's babies". 

When Narra's ice cream arrived and I took a look at it, I remembered my own favorite ice cream creation from the old Magnolia house along Aurora Boulevard back in the early 1980's.  I always ordered "Ernie and Bert" which had two scoops of ice cream, and an ice cream cone cut in half, the pointy half sat on one scoop and became Bert's hat, while the other half with the wide rim, sat on the other scoop, and became Ernie's hat. I miss that old Magnolia house... I miss being a kid! 

 

Narra fed herself and successfully finished her bowl of ice cream without any major mishaps. She didn't soil her clothes, or mess up the table with drippings, and she even managed without a bib! I am so proud! She did get an ice cream mustache and sticky fingers, but just a tiny bit so it took only a few swipes with a wet wipe.  And when her bowl was empty, she spied my sundae and asked me for a bite of my wafer... and the cherry on top!

When I gave Narra the cherry from my sundae, I had a moment. I remember an anecdote my sister often recounts to me, of how one time, when we were little, my dad was about to pop a cherry into his mouth after stating how long it's been since he last had one, and just as he was a millisecond away from savoring his prized fruit, I came along and said "daddy I want that cherry".  My sister caught the look on my dad's face as he handed me the cherry - and the re-enactment of his facial expression makes for the climax of the story.  I always thought that story was about my self-centeredness, and my sister's selflessness - she obviously wanted the cherry too, but was mature enough to let my dad have it - in contrast to me - oblivious little me, who just did what I wanted!  But now, I realize, that anecdote is about many things - not just about siblings and their different traits, but also about parents and their everyday generosity.  The moment I gave Narra my sundae cherry, I traveled thirty years back in time and saw things from my father's point of view as he gave his 4-year old Nikki his precious little cherry. I felt so much love - his love for me - my love for Narra - captured in a single, simple act of giving away the cherry on top of a sundae.

I always hear the Filipino phrase "isusubo na lang, ibibigay pa sa anak" in reference to a mother's selfless love for her offspring.  This, I feel, is one of the most important transformations required of a woman when she becomes a mother: to make the transition from self-centeredness to selflessness... from being the one who takes the cherry on top of the sundae, to being the one who gladly gives it away.  

I was quiet with my reflections on motherhood as Oliver sipped his Mocha and Narra wiped the table (she loves to clean up - an OC trait she gets from her father).  She has no idea how she's affected me so deeply with her innocent request for a simple little cherry.  I watched her wipe the table repeatedly, and I was reminded of myself, with my slate wiped clean.  I am no longer the center of my world - she is. And so is her brother. They are now my world, the center of my existence, and I have to re-visit my old dreams, and fashion new ones based on the new equation. To be de-centered is such an awesome experience: disorienting, humbling, but strangely rewarding.

The last time I visited Swensen's in Singapore I was still single. I'd go there for a self-indulgent "feel-good moment" on a sad day. I always ate the cherry on top to feel better.  This visit to Swensen's in Manila was very different - I'm a mother now, and no longer as self-indulgent, and I didn't need to eat the cherry on top to get my "feel-good moment"... I just had to see my daughter's face light up at the pure and simple joy brought by a beautiful bowl of ice cream, with a cherry on top.