Pasalubong
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| while doing a field work, other employees had already talked with the folks
for them to buy for fresh fish from the area.
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That's when I accidentally clicked the "insert photo" button of the photo above. I just decided to make story out of it.
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I took this picture during a field assignment. Anyway, not my assignment. It was my officemate's birthday party at the office so I had to attend that official business so she could have enough time to prepare for the food.
I even posted a status on my FB account that I will travel to Tortugas.
***
It's known fact among the people I know that I only bring enough money for the days expenses - fare and food - and extra fare just in case I chance upon an acquaintance at the same tricycle ride. Thus, in field work you would rarely see buying something as pasalubong. While the other employees enjoy buying for fresh fish, cashew nuts or honey when assigned to places where those are offered, I was busy making excuses why I don't.
Adobo Flakes and Monggo for My Birthday
On my last birthday, my goal was to have a different menu on the banquet. The other goal is to do it on a tight budget. It was my fourth birthday celebration in the office and I always give surprises. Somehow, they expect something different and out of the box.
AM snack or Late breakfast. Nilagang Munggo. Boiled green beans or beans stew could be the closest English translation I can give after 15 minutes of Google-ing. . Not gulay na munggo. It is a staple serving at wakes - when the days extends to more than 4 nights. The first three nights are for Arozcaldo, Sopas and Lomi. It was the first time to serve nilagang munggo. I had them at the PM snack of my birthday three years ago. I just changed the time of serving.
I cooked it. It was so simple. Monggo. Water. Sugar. Milk. Boil them altogether. Served with paborita and kupeng, it was divine. As I put it, after cheesecake this is the next best thing in life. They all loved it - almost. Those who have gout and arthritis loathe me. Precisely, they got the idea - that I served that so they are still full during lunch time. In that way, they can settle with small serving during lunch.
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Lunch. I used to ask the help of my Aunts to cook for me but they are so pre-occupied with a lot of things to accommodate my request. I have to settle for the ever dependable caterer in the area. I ordered Fried Chicken and Beef with corn in cream sauce. To order from a caterer is quite mechanical. To put personal touch to the banquet, I added my own dish - Adobo Flakes. It was my brother in-laws recipe but since I incorporate my own twist so what I served was my version.
PM Snack. I really didn't intend to prepare for that. I thought they would still be full by then and I want to get away with the usual pancit or pasta. Ideally, I was expecting for leftover which there was none except for the potato salad.
Dinner. I was talking about our office so the treat was limited to those three times. At home, I was so elated that my sibling took charge for me i.e. the expenses and all.
Message of thanks..
When I was at my previous job, I usually receive gifts from the clients - uraro, jollibee or chowking value meal and even whole party treat for my birthday. That was then. Now, my work does not involve customer service so it is such a breeze of magic when people give food.
Recently, there were two separate occasions when we people expressed gratitude through food.
1. One of my most favorite food is "bubuto" or "boboto". Around 3pm a familiar lady arrived unannounced - in a rush. We have guests that day - auditors, which means that we have to give our full attention to them. We were on the middle of looking for the office's assets which should've been existent at moment the auditors ask. The lady who just arrived (an officemate's sister) kept on bothering us.
"Tulungan nyo ko, sumabog ang bubuto". It did not explode. She lost grip of the bilao of bubuto which was wrapped in a yema wrapper, just how we see offerings on Sunday Masses. the next scene was me trying to salvage the part which did not fell on the floor. Goodness! we still have the 1/3 part.
After the reenactments which was done around 6 times, the lady finally explained what she brought in. It was her token of appreciation to the kindness that the staff showed to his brother. Kuya John almost did not survive his ordeal. He was in paranoia. He apparently recovered.
2. Amid the talks of being only office which does not have Valentine's Party, none of the simplest plan prospered. We were about to accept that Vday should just be celebrated with the loved ones, when the On-the-Job Trainees saved the day. They completed the required minimum training hours days before. They just came back to say thank you by means of 1 bilao-ng pancit malabon.
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