Alay Sining 8: Art with a Heart Press Conference at DDB, BGC, Makati

I was invited by Ms Millet Liberato of DDB to attend an press conference organized by the Rotary Club of Makati West (RCMW), just one of the 46 branches in Makati alone. The venue was at the DDB main office located in McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City, Makati. Called Alay Sining, the event is a grand showcase of artworks created by some of the most talented artists in the country today. The art exhibition is used to create a fundraiser which aims to provide funds for deserving minor indigents to undergo open heart surgery. Under this scheme, artists are given an avenue to sell their works and donate some of the proceeds to the noble cause.  

Alay Sining is on its 8th year with the theme "Art With a Heart". The exhibition, consisting primarily of sculpture art, will be held at The Gallery, Greenbelt 5, Makati City from November 12 to 15, 2015. 

According to RCMW President Victor “Junvee” Vital, supporting the art-for-a cause exhibit gives an opportunity to promote a two-pronged initiative: exposure for local artists and support for Filipino children who need the operation badly.

According to Paolo Delgado, this year’s chairman of the exhibit’s Organizing Committee, the event will be joined by over a hundred artists from all over the Philippines who have sent their respective works for the exhibit.  Some were from Palawan, Mindanao and Cebu. Also, most of the artists have been supporting the Alay Sining initiative for most of its 8 year stint. 

The open heart surgery that will be funded by this event is used to treat congenital heart disease, a condition that forms in kids at a very young age. Also, the mortality rate is very high if untreated. The sad thing is that the kids who live with this condition become very weak and unable to engage in physical activity.

RCMW member and former president Roque Tordesillas said that the cost of a heart surgery in a private hospital ranges from Php 800,000 to more than Php 1 million for an open-heart surgery. However, he noted the efforts championed by the Club to bring down the costs by tying up with the National Children's Hospital and asking for government subsidies. However, the resulting cost is still astronomical at about Php 100,000 to 200,000 and is still very high for an indigent Filipino family. The funds generated by the Club will then be used to cover this amount. The operation will then be conducted by a renowned team of doctors and nurses, some members of which originated from the United States.   

Tordesillas also called the Alay Sining artists calling as the real heroes in this project due to their  generous contributions of their works, artistry, and hearts. Without them, there would be no Alay Sining.

Speaking on behalf of his co-artists, Ral Arrogante, said that doing charity completes their vocation. The activity shows his desire to work for the betterment of the lives of kids in need of medical treatments.

The event was truly an eye-opener to the dismal conditions of healthcare in the country and the initiative of the private sector to obviate this sad reality. To date, the Club has already provided more than 350 open heart surgeries to kids ranging from 6-18 years old. This feat truly is a grand testament to what the human spirit can do to help those in need.

An esteemed member of the Club, Mr. Lim, showed us around the exhibit and told us about his favorite piece of work, a metallic cart made by Mr. Arrogante. According to Mr. Lim, this piece reminded him of his childhood memories. He said so because of the fact that the cart contained softdrink can labels of brands he used to drink when he was younger. Add to that the fact that the cart contained siopao and siomai dish trays and soup ladles. I also liked the fact that Mr. Lim told us about his fascination for art as a tool to convey ideas. The importance of art, according to him, is its ability to develop culture and society as a whole. He added that art must be given value in our society. What struck me the most was his statement that while people spend money to meet their needs and their wants such as consumer goods and vanity items, they must not forget the importance of culture and literature as tools to develop themselves.

On the other hand, Mr. Arrogante mentioned that the piece was done without any form of welding. Through the use of simple tools like pliers, cutters, and hammers, he was able to craft the meticulously detailed piece. His piece is an expression of the Filipino love for food and its importance in the culture.

For more information on Alay-Sining, you can call 75303098.

The story in pictures: 

Mr. Arrogante explaining the essence of his piece. Listening are Mr. Lim and the media

The metallic cart

Note the meticulously crafted utensils

The other pieces

Sculptures are the focus of this year's exhibition.

The artists and previous beneficiaries with members of the Rotary Club of Makati

Members of the Club with beneficiaries

The members of the club

The President of the Club talking about the advocacy

Special Thanks to:

Millet Liberato of DDB.

Event Post: Aussie Fresh Fest: Australian citrus fruits at Rustan's and Shopwise this August

Last August 7, 2015, I was invited by Ms. Tina Sendin of the Australian embassy to witness the launch and promotion of imported Australian citrus fruits. The venue was in Shopwise Alabang at 3 pm. This event is part of an ongoing campaign called the Aussie Fresh Fest, in which a number of Australia's prime agricultural commodities are marketed in select supermarkets in the Philippines, particularly Rustan's and Shopwise.

During the press conference, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell was delighted to share with the media that Australia's citrus fruits are of a very high caliber in terms of quality, safety, and taste. He noted the similarities between Filipino and Australian culture when it comes to a highly discriminating preference for fresh and natural fruit produce. He also guaranteed that Australian standards in growing agricultural produce, coupled with its high grade food safety standards deliver nothing but the best oranges. He even mentioned that their government can trace the origins of these Australian fruit growers in order to achieve the aforementioned standards. Lastly, he stated that the Australian crop growing environment has been very favorable in cultivating these fruits.

Shopwise and Rustan's supermarkets have been well known with providing customers with produce that are of excellent quality. In line with this commitment, they have imported these citrus fruits to provide more variety to consumers and encourage people to make healthier choices when it comes to food consumption. Rustan’s Supercenters, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Pierre Deplanck recognizes that Australian oranges are some of the best in the world. He noted that the oranges serve to bolster the products offered by the supermarket giant and are perfect for families who want to spend a premium on their health and well-being.

What can one do with oranges? There are a variety of choices. It may be eaten as a healthy snack or used in salads or shakes. One can never go wrong with oranges. It is a good source of Vitamin C to protect one's immune system.

After the press conference, our contingent got to enjoy cooked and fresh agricultural Aussie products. The buffet had the signature baked Lamb Shank with Potato Cutlets smothered with Mint Sauce, grass-fed Aussie Roast beef sandwich bites, cheesecake made with New Zealand milk, and tomato salsa on French bread. Our drinks included fresh orange juice and lemon mojito. We even had Aussie wine to boot. The food was really tasty. It carried a very high level of distinction and taste from normal Filipino fare. For starters, the beef and the lamb shanks were cooked thoroughly. The meat was very tender even if the dish was well-done. The taste was top-notch. Apart from the normal meaty taste you get from beef, you can also notice that it wasn't too salty or sweet. The cheesecake was great too. It didn't taste like it had a lot of preservatives. As for their flagship drinks, I'd say that the citrus fruits were extracted thoroughly to provide us with a non-sugary and pulpy sweetness. Overall, I had no qualms about the food. I do hope to try something like that next time.

One can see that this event showcases another important landmark in the economic relations between the Philippines and Australia. Originally Australian and New Zealand beef has been the prime import commodity to the Philippines. The advent of citrus fruit importation from Australia is also a prime testament to growing economic activity between the two countries.

The month-long Aussie Fresh Fest also includes other Australian beef and lamb products and will run in all Rustan’s Supermarket, Marketplace by Rustan’s, and Shopwise branches until August 31.

Rustan’s Supermarket, Marketplace by Rustan’s, and Shopwise are all managed by Rustan Supercenters, Inc., a member of the Dairy Farm International Group.

Special thanks to:

Ms. Tina Sendin of the Australian Embassy

The BAHAY Buffet Experience: a day with BAGA and fellow bloggers in MoCa Family Farm (Padre Garcia, Batangas)

Last July 18, 2015, BAGA (Barbecuers' And Grillers' Association) Manila launched its pet project known as BAHAY Buffet. The word bahay is capitalized to mean: Buffet At Home is Always Yummy. This new venture aims to introduce consumers to up-and-coming hole in the wall eateries, small farms, micro-entrepreneurs and other businesses in the food industry. The idea is to bring a group of private individuals to the homes or farms of food establishment owners and connoisseurs to have an intimate food buffet experience. The owners will be able to closely interact with the consumers and be able to promote their products to them. The customers, on the other hand, will be able to treasure a unique dining experience with their hosts and fellow consumers. The concept has already been in the drawing board last year, but it was only on this year that the project has been finally executed. 

To cap off the launch of this ambitious event, BAGA, under the leadership of Ms. Dawn Mawis, invited a select group of food and lifestyle bloggers from different age groups. The goal was simple. We were sent to document the first event held in MoCa farm. The property is owned by the Morris and Castor spouses who have long been into organic farming, small-scale agriculture, and micro-entrepreneurship. The farm made a mark in the exotic food scene by showcasing its rabbit meat made from the New Zealand variety of rabbits. 

Our contingent travelled to Padre Garcia, Batangas a rustic town near the city of Lipa. We met at the Intercon hotel in Makati, then we rode our respective vans. The journey took us 2 hours. The area is known to be a favorable farming locale. Big names in the food industry such as Andok's have chicken breeding grounds there. Even popular politicians and movie actors also have their respective farms in the area.

Upon arrival, we were shown into the farm by Ka Gigi Morris, the wife of veteran horticulturist Bob Morris. She told us the history of MoCa farm. According to her, the farm was originally a mango orchard in barangay known for mass producing mangoes. Upon the arrival of Bob Morris in the Philippines, he saw the potential of the land for more productive uses such as agro-tourism and animal breeding. Hence, the MoCa farm was born.

According to Ka Gigi, the farm uses purely organic methods of crop cultivation. It means that no chemical pesticides such as DDT are used to grow the produce. Apart from that, the volume of their produce is usually for personal consumption and their small agribusiness. This is evident in the fact that there are no heavy farming equipment present in the place. Also, there is no showing that large-scale crop placement methods like crop rotation are practiced. This is not to say, though, that the farm isn't remarkable. What delighted me was the variety of orchids, fruit trees, shrubs, and other plants that were present in the place. Add to the fact that the farm boasts of its unique native pig and rabbit breeding grounds. The most amazing part is that all these productive activities are included in a small 1 hectare area.

The tour wasn't the only thing that surprised me. The other thing was the food. I'm not keen on Filipino food, but after tasting Ka Gigi's specialties, I am strongly reconsidering my position. At about lunch time, Ka Gigi invited us to sample the delectable recipes made from the organic ingredients from the farm. For starters, we had the Suman coupled with Santan Sauce. The rice used in the dish was colored green. It had a good taste which even became better when dipped into the sauce. Another appetizer was the Kalabasa Soup with Malunggay Flakes. The soup actually had olive oil to give it a buttery taste without the bad effects of saturated fat. The malunggay leaves accentuated the buttery taste and provided the soup with more flavor. The final appetizer was the Garden Salad with Alugbati (Spanish Spinach), Pineapple, and Tomatoes. This salad, didn't use the typical lettuce. Instead, a lesser known type of leaf, Alugbati, was used. The leaves were crisp and a bit bitter. The pineapples and tomatoes served to provide sweetness to the bitter taste.

The appetizers themselves were already overwhelming. However, it didn't end there. The meat and fish viands were more generous. Our menu was comprised of Santol with Pork in Coconut Milk, Native Pig Lechon, Pinaputukang Tilapia wrapped in Galangal Leaves, and Three-colored Rice. The santol was ground and cooked to perfection with pork and chili. The fruit, at this point, had the texutre and the taste of animal meat. The taste was accentuated with a generous helping of chili and coconut milk, true to the Bicolano style of cooking. The dish made me unable to distinguish the difference between the pork and the santol. It also reminded me of the occasional Bicol Express cooked by our maid. The difference is that the ingredients were fresh and well-cooked. The Pinaputukang Tilapia, on the other hand, melted in my mouth with every bite. It was juicy and tender. The dining event was not complete without the crowning glory of native lechon. Its succulent flesh made me forget the consequences of high cholesterol. It was organic anyway. It didn't have the debilitating effects of commercial breeding chemicals. (and hence, healthier than Andok's) Apart from the succulent flesh, the meat tasted different from the Manila lechon I was accustomed to. It wasn't too greasy. The fat was also trimmed and the meat wasn't rubbery. Without time to recover from our generous helping, we were immediately served another tempting dish: Dessert!

The Hubad na Turon had a unique twist. It was served like a fusion cuisine dish. The lumpia wrapper served as the placeholder for supremely sweet caramelized bananas. The wrapper was fried to a crisp, while bananas were chilled. Talk about a perfect mixture of hot and cold. The bananas were cut to small servings so as not to overwhelm our taste buds.

All of these dishes were served together with a variety of drinks. We had glass after glass of bignay cider, santol juice, and organically grown Batangas coffee from dried Liberica and Robusta fruits. The bignay cider, commonly used, in making fermented wine, had a slightly bitter taste, but was still satisfactory as a cooler nonetheless. The Santol had the flavor of mixture of fruit juices, and yet maintained a well-bodied taste. It didn't taste like typical powdered juice we had in Manila. The coffee took the show. It showcased the strength of a fresh and popular Batangueno delicacy. Add to that the fact that the beans were not showered with pesticide. The drink was pretty strong; and I'd say it can keep a person awake for an entire day. 

The delightful showcase of food combined with a homey atmosphere truly showed me the success of BAHAY Buffet's wonderful concept. During the entire period of the tour and meal, BAGA and the bloggers had a wonderful time to interact with each other and network. After witnessing the generosity and hospitality of Ka Gigi Morris and Miss Dawn Mawis, I can already say that  the trip also provided me with pleasurable memories and experiences. I'm sure that after this successful launch, BAHAY Buffet will be a powerful tool in promoting agro-entrepreneurship in the country.

The excursion didn't end there. Our group also had the opportunity to visit BAGA's Lakefront establishment in Sucat, Paranaque. I'll feature it in the next post.

Check out BAHAY Buffet events, through their FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/bahaybuffet

MoCa Family farm has its website. Wisit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MoCa-Farm/144927215529014?sk=timeline

The story in pictures:

The 8 am meet up at Intercon Manila

One group picture before departing

The marker of Lipa City, Batangas

a left turn to the secluded farm

The arch of San Sebastian Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Batangas

The arch of Padre Garcia, Batangas, the home of MoCa Family Farm

The welcome sign of the MoCa Family Farm

Another welcome sign

Ka Gigi Morris and kids

The start of our tour

a short merienda before continuing the tour

the participants enjoying the greenery

some of MoCa Farm's horticultural projects

Bugnay - the fruit for one of our drinks

a small campsite

the wooden throne

Formosa pineapple

Some pictures of the lush vegetation

A native pig serves as the breeding stock

one of the few rabbits harvested for their meat

The hungry bloggers waiting for lunch 

The venue of our lunch - the dining hall and kitchen complete with fly nets

Liberica coffee beans

pumpkin soup with basil and olive oil

an artsy shot of what to expect for our meal

Axl roasting the lechon for our meal

Ka Gigi and her staff, together with the sumptuous buffet

our garden salad with fresh pineapples, tomato, and Alugbati (Spanish Spinach)

a wonderful presentation of suman with bignay cider

suman with santan sauce

white rice, yellow turmeric rice, and blue rice 

a sample menu posted on the dining room

Bugnay fruit

The bloggers grabbing pics of the meal

Some of MoCa Farm's preserved delicacies for sale

The native pig lechon - note the 

another shot of the lechon roasting

Ka Gigi telling us the dishes and their ingredients

Pinaputukang tilapia in galangal leaves

another shot of the ginataang santol

a short prayer before eating

Ginataang Santol and minced Pork with chili - reminiscent of Bicol Express

bagoong sauce

a close up of the ginataang santol and pork

Hubad na turon - unwrapped lumpia wrapper and caramelized bananas

bignay fruit - looked like blueberries hehe

Santol juice in orange and bignay cider in violet

a mango tree stump. A reminder of the devastation brought by Typhoon Glenda

The bloggers, BAGA, and Ka Gigi

A pleasant reminder of our visit

Photo Credits to:

Axl Guinto  (axlppi.blogspot.com)

Jacqueline Mercado (gotasteblog.blogspot.com)

Kay Almienda of BAGA Manila