Of tsinelas and getting dirty

We are a group of impulse-trippers. At the drop of a hat we would take off for any interesting event, specially when it involves food, crafts and plants (the latter confined to those among us with green thumbs). And so we found ourselves at the yearly "Tsinelas Festival", where else but in Liliw, Laguna. We were anticipating to see (and buy) some of those lovely mules and zapatillas that the town is so famous for, but we had the fantastic bonus of being hosted by the Salud family, whose forebears not only started the industry some 50 years ago, but who are foodies as well.

Thus we discovered the town’s version of the Bachuy, called Basoy, tasty and flavorful, having been cooked with ginger and rice washing. The main ingredients are liver, heart and sweet bread. Unlike the Ilonggos, they do not put noodles. Their fried suman was browned to perfection with a gravy-like calamay. The specially ordered espasols were to die for–soft, not too sweet and big enough to satisfy one’s craving. After a hefty lunch and loading our plastic bags with the footwear, we were ready to indulge in the goodies that our host’s company Home Joy Food Products distributes to many outlets in the country–the packed ready-to-eat shelled chestnuts from China, cheese-flavored salted popcorn and shrimps crackers, chocolate-covered raisins, wasabe crackers, chocolates and many more. Of special interest to health buffs would be Home Joy Spanish-style sardines in corn oil. On the sidewalk a man managed to talk our ladies into getting all of his Lucban longaniza at P50 a dozen for the small ones and P100 for the big ones. We had to have Sta. Cruz kesong puti (P100 for 4) and a phone call produced a lady who met us at a gas station where we were going to pass on the way back to Manila.

Two days later, we motored to San Pablo where there was a "Get Dirty" (spelled Derty at the parking area) Event in the lanzones grove of Barrio Putol (so termed because it ends on the boundary of Laguna and Batangas). It was like being in one of those tiangges in Manila because most of the goods on sale are found in the city. It was not literally about getting dirty, but simply a display of goods to make people realize that we must protect the earth. We found our friend Jacqui ( forerunner of organic food in the country) with her natural cheeses, sauces, pizzas and drinks (mainly the pandan lemon mix). She makes her own vaccum-packed cheeses, including low-fat Swiss quart at P87.50 per, ricotta at P122.57. Her bottled pesto sauce goes for P160 each, and her all-natural pizza (mushrooms and zucchini) at P160 each. At another stall, only a small table under a tree, we got attracted to Lucban puto, soft and topped with red egg, nearly as good as Biñan’s puto. Bromeliads, mums and lilies were also on sale and by the time we called it quits, one of us had nearly a garden in the back of the van.

San Pablo is not without its sweets, the most prominent is the sans rival home-made by a lady called Merly. Having sampled this from someone who is a native of the town, we looked for her to buy some. A gracious lady called Naty whom we met made our life easier by volunteering to order for us. A small box costs P180.

Back in Manila, we discovered that there is also good coffee at the Haagen Dazs Café. We tried the Café Mocha (P68), a concoction of Café Latte with syrup which is mellow and sweet. Summer being at its hottest these days, they are offering their Summer Parfaits and Coolers (from P108 to P158). Our favorite is Cantaloupe with Fruits and Nuts, which is refreshing. Not to forget, they have the best ice cream cake in town.

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all friends and associates, caring relatives, from prominent personalities to dedicated drivers, who condoled with us during our bereavement for the demise of our beloved brother-in-law Manuel Silva, a photojournalist par excellence.

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Lydia D. Castillo’s e-mail address: [email protected]