through cooking

The Deligeros gain confidence through cooking, especially when they know it teaches them how to look after themselves and show their affection for others

By Patricia Taculao

AS the famous saying goes, “The way to a person’s heart is through his/her stomach.” We Filipinos enjoy sharing good food and company because of our firm familial ties and love for gastronomical experiences, with homecooked Filipino meals being among our favorites to indulge in. It takes time, effort, and passion to produce hearty meals that leave a mark on people.

Other than the outcome, cooking has further benefits for people. For instance, others use it to express their creativity or emotion. But when it comes to the youth, the older generation sees cooking as an avenue to learn valuable life skills. After all, eating is a basic necessity to survive.

Whenever possible, some mothers take the time to teach their children some basic cooking skills, treating it as a way for them to bond.

In celebration of Mother’s Day 2023, Manila Standard revived its Clash of Kawali cooking competition to bring A Mother’s Day Special , where mothers will demonstrate their cooking and budgeting skills while working closely with their daughters to create savory meals.

Besides the thrill of the competition, the contestants, Maricris Canceran Jacie Libuano , and Neriza Deligero , all see it as an opportunity to further instill a sense of responsibility in their children.

Canceran has a deep passion for cooking. She learned from her American employer, who would provide her with a cookbook so she could follow recipes closely. She passed her interest in cooking to her daughter, Jannelle

“Since nagtrabaho ako, kaming mag-asawa, natuto na siyang magluto. Responsible siya kasi siya ‘yung gumagabay sa dalawa niyang kapatid. Siya ‘yung nagluluto sa bahay ,” she shared, adding that her daughter can cook dishes like tinola, adobo, and afritada, among others. On the other hand, Jannelle hopes to turn her passion for cooking into a profession someday, as she realizes the fun and complexity of whipping up dishes in the kitchen for herself and others. Cooking for herself and others also prompted Libunao to start in the kitchen at an early age. As the eldest child, she would care for her younger siblings when their parents were away for work. She passed on the same mindset to her eldest daughter, Jasmine , because she and her husband were away for work on weekdays. “ Tinuruan ko siya para makatulong din sa amin sa bahay.

Dorm cooking made easy

METRO Manila is a bustling city that provides numerous opportunities. Students from across the Philippines are also keen on enrolling in specific colleges and universities to broaden their horizons and learn from some of the best in the academe. Renting dorm rooms near their chosen schools is how many students close the distance between their homes and schools.

Yet being away from home means leaving behind some comforts–like home cooking. While some students have the luxury of space in their dorm rooms to cook hearty meals, others have to work with a limited area to get by. Fortunately, many kitchen appliances have become more space-saving, catering to kitchensavvy individuals who don’t have much room to move around.

Xtreme Appliances has a wide array of kitchen appliances that are compact yet efficient, allowing students to make quality food in their dorms.

Some students, especially those with a tight budget, rely on quick, easy meals to curb their hunger. But too much of something can be dangerous, especially if it has artificial flavorings. But cooking meals like sinigang or adobo is also a costefficient way to eat hearty, healthy meals. And making these dishes shouldn’t be complicated and use too much space and equipment.

Xtreme offers a multi-cooker with a two-level steam tray, ideal for making stews, soups, and hotpots. Students can even steam their food without worries, using a healthier option for cooking their meals and ideal for making dim sum.

Induction and rice cookers are also kitchen must-haves in dorms. Both products have a keep warm option so students can enjoy hot meals despite their busy schedules and responsibilities. The induction cooker has eight stages for its power settings and six cooking programs to provide students with a cooking range

Xtreme's Multi-Cooker with a two-level Steam Tray lets users steam food without worries from frying to boiling.

For those who want a little more complexity in their meals, Xtreme has an Airfryer Oven with a baking tray, wire rack, crumb tray, air-fry basket, rotisserie, rolling cage, fetch rack, and baking tray rack. It has a temperature control of up to 230 degrees Celsius and has a 24L capacity, perfect for those who love cooking large meals for everyone to share.

On the other hand, students who love making power smoothies and other blended drinks to cool off after a tiring day at school can use Xtreme’s Glass Blender with an Ice Crush Function that produces finer ice. Its small glass mill is also beneficial for grinding beans and spices. The blender also has a safety lock system, prompting the blender to automatically shut down if the jar is not attached to the body.

Cooking doesn’t have to take up too much space. Many others have proved they can make filling meals with limited space and equipment. Hence, living in dorms shouldn’t be a problem for students who want to unleash their culinary skills or create meals to get them by. With Xtreme Appliances’ kitchen products, students living in dorms can whip up equally satisfying meals to make them feel at home even when they’re miles away.

The Libunaos see cooking as a responsibility to help out in the household, teaching them initiative

Para pag-uwi, may nakahanda ng kanin at ulam na lang kulang ,” Libunao said. She also taught her daughter how to slice ingredients while considering her safety, something that people should frequently think about. Giving her daughter some responsibility and familiarity in the kitchen also enables the child to explore new flavors and experience different kinds of food when possible.

Meanwhile, Deligero, a mother of three, imparts her knowledge and wisdom in the household to all her children. Her youngest, Angelina , is independent enough to cook her meals when her mother is away. Deligero learned some tricks of the trade in the kitchen through her mother, who also passionately cooks for her family.

“Nagluluto ako ng iba’t ibang ulam para sa kanila. Nakakatuwa pag inuubos nila ‘yung niluto ko kasi doon ko din pinapakita ‘yung pagmamahal ko sa kanila. Minsan, natututo na din sila magluto sa sarili nila kaya kampante ako na kaya nila sarili nila,” Deligero said.

Through the example she sets, Deligero’s youngest daughter has gained confidence in the kitchen, sometimes experimenting with other cuisines that piqued her curiosity.

Cooking is more than just producing food, as these mothers demonstrated. It’s also a great way to create deeper connections and encourage the younger generations to learn life skills, gain confidence, and have a healthy relationship with food.

Watch Manila Standard’s Clash of Kawali: A Mother’s Day Special live on Manila Standard’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH) today at 1 p.m.

ARTIST’S CORNER

TECHNOLOGY has opened various opportunities for the youth to learn new tricks and broaden their horizons. Alliah Bautista a student from the University of the Philippines Open University, discovered her passion for crocheting by watching random videos on YouTube and how they helped develop her patience.

“It’s strange how I started this with no understanding of how to make it; I almost gave up on my first try since I couldn’t seem to follow the instructions, but because of my patience and desire for it, I can say that I’m more used to making it and I’m becoming better,” she said.

Crocheting is a type of needlecraft that uses a hook to create fabric from loops of yarn. People can create various items through crocheting, from apparel to accessories to decorations, among other possibilities. Besides creating adorable and practical products from crocheting, Bautista also finds it relaxing and forget her worries for a while.

“This allows me to have some peaceful time in the midst of the pressure of university. Also, because we don’t have face-to-face classes, this can assist me to pass the time. Eventually, I’ve saved a lot of money because of this hobby, which I also utilize as a source of income,” she shared.