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.    

The Lovely New Church in Westgrove Heights & My Call To Prayer

St. Benedict Church, Ayala Westgrove Heights, Silang, Cavite.

Some churches are grand and flamboyant, they announce their presence with their height and embellishments. The gargoyled Notre Dame in Paris and the gaudy (pun intended) Sagrada Familia in Barcelona come to mind. They are majestic edifices that excite and overwhelm.  Then, there are those churches that are subtle, stately, and subdued. They quietly work their way into your consciousness, making you succumb through gentle persuasion.  The recently completed St. Benedict church at Ayala Westgrove Heights is one such church, and when I visited it for the first time this weekend, I found myself praying a bit  longer than I originally intended.

The courtyard and the church's austere facade.

The elegant church sits right by the entrance gates to Westgrove. Its whitewashed walls and tiled roof are immaculately clean, betraying the church's young age. In terms of lay-out and general-feel, however, it is traditional and classic. It is reminiscent of serene Carmelite convent churches, similarly structured with inviting courtyards.  But it is a suitably updated interpretation, a successful mix of the old and new, with clean modern lines, and effective use of repetition of circles and angles.

The nave and the main aisle.

It seems like a perfect size for a wedding: grand enough for a dramatic walk down the aisle, but small enough to feel like an intimate gathering of family and friends.  Oliver and I found the baptistry appealing. IF we'd have another child (dear God in case you're listening, just to clarify, I am not asking for a third child...yet), it would be nice to hold our next baptism here.  I can just imagine how solemn it would be.  We'd invite family and friends to take a short drive out of Manila for a nice week-end lunch in one of the restaurant rows in nearby Santa Rosa, or even scenic Tagaytay, and enjoy a pleasant breather from the mega city's pollution and congestion.  I imagine, the church's calming architecture will be worth the drive.

The Baptistry.

The altar, in particular, is peculiarly compelling in its minimalism. A lone figure dominates the altar, Christ on a cross standing on an awesome solid block of hard wood. Behind the cross is a dome,  ingeniously repositioned on its side, a refreshing departure from the usual dome on top of the altar. Covered in a gold leaf finish, the dome is visually disorienting, creating the feeling of falling into the wall, as though one were being drawn closer.  The dizzying trick played on the eyes by the dome-lain-on-its-side can be solved by focusing on one object - the Christ on the cross - which offers stability of vision.  I reflected on my life, and the confusion and dizziness I feel, and the sensation of falling - even drowning - and I think of my faith, and my need to train my eyes on Christ to achieve the balance and stability I seek. I know not the name of the architect who orchestrated this inspired moment, but if I were to meet this person in the flesh, I would say "thank you for bringing me closer to God".

The altar with the gold dome.

It's my first visit to this church, and following Filipino folk practice when visiting a new church, I came in with the intention of asking for three wishes. That simple objective gave way to a deeper meditation, as I knelt in front of the altar, I found myself in spiritual reflection. I realized how much I missed having a village church to go to regularly. In the last few years, I have been uprooted, and moved from one living arrangement to the other, and exercised a nomadic worship in various churches. I feel the burning desire to be anchored in one parish, my parish, where I can serve as a bona fide parishioner. And this church could be it! It could be my family's spiritual home in a few year's time.  Oliver bought a lot in Westgrove the year we were married, and we have hopes of building a house here.  Could Narra and Guijo grow up here? And go to church here? Do we want to move our family out of Manila? There are many factors to consider when establishing a family and choosing a lifestyle.  And having a church in the vicinity completes the picture of what I dream of as an ideal set-up for raising a Christian family.

  

Side Entrance/Exit.

The way out of the church is as inviting as the way in. One walks away on shady paths with lush vegetation, as though being escorted out with a gracious despedida.  I want to keep coming back here. This building communicates something to me, an invitation to pray, and I respond to it warmly. I am so grateful to make this lovely church's acquaintance this weekend, and I look forward to developing a deep friendship with it in years to come. See you again soon, lovely church of St. Benedict. 

Kid-Friendly Places: Ayala Museum on a Sunday Morning

The Ayala Museum

One may think the Ayala Museum is too formal a place for young children. Cameras are strictly prohibited. The Gold Exhibit on the fourth floor has deterring gates with prison-like steel bars. Most of the rare items on display are encased in glass and cannot be touched. There are guards at every turn. The dignified ambience commands a respectful decorum. Parents with very young children may deem it inappropriate to bring their tiny tots to the Ayala Museum - but we did just that on a lazy Sunday morning, and we had a great time.  While it is not a children's museum, and isn't designed specifically for a young audience the way Museo Pambata is, there are a number of ways in which Ayala Museum is kid-friendly.

To begin with, kids below 3 get in for free. Then there's the Annual Family Membership Pass that allows unlimited access to the museum for parents and all their children under 18 years old for an annual fee of 2,000 pesos - this is a good idea for large families with school-age kids. Oliver and I decided to go for individual membership since our kids are below 3 years old and can still get in for free. Adults only need to pay a very reasonable 500 pesos, while students pay only 300 for a year's worth of museum visits per person.  Membership perks include invitations to exhibit openings; curator-led tours; discounts for workshops, lectures, symposia, and family activities organized by the museum; and discounts at the Museum Cafe.  

My pre-museum energy booster: coffee at M Cafe.

Before going to the museum, we started out with breakfast at M Cafe. Oliver and I read the newspaper and had coffee while our kids took a stroll with their Yaya Ruby at the garden nearby. There are koi ponds, and sculptures, and wide open spaces and many shady spots for the kids to enjoy. We decided to dine al fresco. While smokers usually sit outdoors, one can sit strategically to avoid smoke. The outdoor seating area is located on a "wind tunnel" of some sort, and wind blows in one direction, so we had our kids seated in a smoke free corner. We ordered M Cafe's breakfast with all of Oliver's faves in one plate: tapa, bangus, longganiza, eggs, with garlic rice. I like taking our kids here on a lazy Sunday morning when there aren't too many people. It's all so pleasant. The breeze, the foliage, and ample space for strolling and running around.  After our leisurely satisfying breakfast, we headed off to the museum.  

M Cafe's Breakfast plate with all the faves.

It was our great fortune that the current exhibit on the first floor of the museum showcases the works of member artists of INK (Ilustrador Ng Kabataan or Illustrators for Children's Books) in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the organization.  On the walls were framed fanciful illustrations. There were whimsical scale models of scenes from children's stories, some were displayed on pedestals, others "floated" in surreal fashion, suspended from the ceiling with near-invisible strings. I felt as fascinated and in awe  as my 2 year old Narra, and 4 month old Guijo. We were all staring dreamily at the colorful  images contained artfully in the vast, white exhibit space.  

From the first floor, we proceeded to the 4th floor to see the Gold exhibit. Our strollers were comfortably accommodated in the elevator, and throughout the museum, there was ample space for maneuvering and parking them. A short movie clip on the importance of gold in pre-hispanic Philippine society is shown on a huge concave screen to introduce the collection of rare gold artifacts. We were impressed with the innovative glass displays on the floor! Emphasizing how gold comes from the earth, and how the archaeological finds were dug from the ground. Having them displayed under our feet was a delightfully disorienting experience. It also meant it was easy for Narra to view them - she squatted on the ground to look at various pieces of gold.

On the 3rd floor were paintings. The official website of the Ayala Museum has a section giving advise to parents on how to discuss art with children. I'll have to wait until my kids are older before I discuss art with them, but for now, I will encourage certain habits of viewing and touring - I hope to expose them to the "choreography" of museum-going - to imprint on their young minds the postures of  walking, watching, looking, and pondering in a museum-ish pace and rhythm. I dream of taking them to more museums all over the world.  The Ayala Museum, with its compact size, is a manageable place to start.  Imagine when it's time to take them to the Smithsonian! The Louvre! Museo del Prado! or even to view endless walls depicting ancient history at the many temples of Angkor Wat! I wish by then, they've developed enough physical and mental fortitude to do justice to such grand cultural institutions. 

With Guijo just outside the Museum entrance.

Finally, on the 2nd floor, is the perennial favorite, the dioramas! I've seen this exhibit many times since my childhood, but I never tire of it. Narra found it very fascinating - which proves how appealing the dioramas are. If only the museum built kid-friendly ledges to accommodate child-height patrons. I had to lift Narra each time she wanted to take a closer look, and that hurt my back! We took our yaya Ruby with us, and I asked her what she thought of the exhibits, and she told me "Totoo pala yung sa Amaya!" referring to the costumes seen on a daily period drama entitled Amaya set in pre-Hispanic times.  Yaya Ruby is an avid fan of the show, and by extension, so is my daughter Narra. When she saw the exhibit on gold and it's importance in displaying stature in a hierarchical society, and saw the battle scenes in the dioramas, she whispered to my daughter "Narra, parang sa Amaya!".  

Narra choosing her Filipino publications for children.
She doesn't read yet, she's just choosing based on illustrations.

After our trip to the museum, we took a short walk to Powerbooks nearby. We saw exhibits of INK both at Museo Pambata and at Ayala Museum and we promised ourselves we'd buy Narra more Filipino publications for children. We made good on our promise and bought her several books. How affordable they were! Most titles were priced at 70 pesos, and had text both in Filipino and English.

Oliver and I want to expose our children to Philippine history, art, and culture, and taking them to museums is also good for us as a couple.  It intensifies our pride in our country, and nurtures our spirit, allowing us to take a step back from our everyday lives so we can indulge in loftier thoughts. Even before we were married, Oliver and I would go on dates to museums, and I love the good conversations that follow.  We want to share a lot of moments like these with Narra and Guijo. With our Ayala Museum Membership, we'll surely have more museum visits for the rest of 2012.

Ayala Museum Website:

http://www.ayalamuseum.org/

2011 Reconsidered: Remembering the High Points of a Horrible Year

House Blessing of our new condo. Blessed by Fr. Manny Serranilla
on December 8, 2011.

There are years that feel more triumphant than others, you file them in a special drawer in your brain, the one reserved for fond remembrances. Then there are the not-so-good years, the really tough ones you end up filing away in the drawer of disappointment - or worse - the drawer of grief.  More often, however, the years that pass defy neat filing, when the good and the bad are intertwined. 2011 had the makings of a horrible year. I cried many tears this year, more than at any other year in my charmed life. It was a year of great losses: I said good bye to family members who died; and I said good bye to DLSU, my home for half of my life, because my teaching stint had come to an end.   I want to file away 2011 in the bottom drawer of my mind, the one labeled "Years I Wish To Forget", but I can't - and I shouldn't. There are many blessed moments. And I am thankful I took photos of those happy times, so I can remember the good, when I feel overwhelmed by the bad.

Narra's 2nd Birthday. May, 2011.

At the start of the year I was ordered on bed rest for a month. I spent January lying down, when the viability of my pregnancy was in question. I kept praying that my son would hold on for dear life - that he would stick to my womb and grow! And grow he did! God answered my prayers.  By my second trimester my son's vital signs were strong, and I felt strong too, enough to travel around! We celebrated Narra's 2nd birthday with a party held in May, and traveled to Bangkok in June, and Pearl Farm in Davao in July.  Compared to my first pregnancy, when I felt so short-of-breath that I couldn't even walk through a grocery without needing to sit, this second pregnancy is a blessing! I was able to shop through Chatuchak market in Bangkok, for an entire afternoon. Childbirth was quick and easy, and our baby Guijo came out healthy and strong.  

7 months pregnant. Oliver and I had an 8-day break in Bangkok.

8 months pregnant. Pearl Farm, Davao.

When trials struck our family in September with the death of Oliver's brother, Owen; followed too soon by the unexpected death of his Aunt Boots in October, we broke the succession of funerals with twin baptisms! Guijo and his cousin Marco were baptized in October 23. And the next day, on October 24, I received my most cherished Wang Gung Wu Medal and Prize for Best Dissertation in the Social Sciences and Humanities from the National University of Singapore. My career may be in limbo at the moment, but the award is validation of my potential as a scholar. It is the biggest cash prize I have received in my life, and the biggest affirmation and recognition of the value of my original ideas.  How can I not feel inspired?

Guijo's Baptism, held October 23rd. Christ the King Church.

Oliver managed to complete an awesome house-building project through the last few tumultuous months of the year. In collaboration with his sister Riza, who is our interior designer and contractor, he renovated and furnished a condo unit we recently acquired. In just a few weeks time, the empty box with plain walls, was transformed into a thoughtfully designed, efficient, and elegant hideaway. We had our condo blessing on December 8, and we spent our holidays vacationing in our new home. We spent New Year's eve enjoying the panoramic view of fireworks from all over the metro, popping in concert, building up to an exciting crescendo as midnight approached. There, from our high-floor balcony, as we heard the explosions, I thought of how fireworks - with their sounds and blinding light - exorcise the demons of the past year, severing them from our system so they do not haunt us in the new year.  There, I allowed myself to feel like a kid, to watch the fireworks in awe and delight, despite the smog and pollution they caused. I allowed myself to feel hope and inspiration.  I said a peaceful goodbye to the year that passed - forgiving the year for the pain it brought, and thanking it for the many joys and triumphs too. 

Receiving my Wang Gung Wu Medal. October 24th.

2012, can you be a dear, and be a really, really, good year?

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