Page 115 - May 2018 - December 2018 Issue

There is a very special connection between us and our grandparents. One of which is shared in food and
travel. As part of the extended family, our Lolo and Lola spoils us when returning from a trip away. They
bring us pasalubong (gift or souvenir) that highlights a Filipino tradition of travellers bringing gifts from
their destination to people back home. Despite millennials enjoying food and travel more than any other
age group, our grandparents in their own way have shared and introduced us to memorable experiences
specifically on what food to eat, where to go to satiate our palates and places to travel and explore.

We asked four MPT South employees to recall their fun-filled food and travel memories shared with their
lola (grandmother).

CHRISTIINE “KIT” ZABANAL, Tollways before doing other activities. “We go to
Development and Engineering church first, then UKAY-UKAY! Nung bata pa
ako, lagi ako sinasama sa church then
“I’m a Lola’s girl. My Lola Lydia took care of ngayon na I have work, ako naman
me when I was young while my mother was nagsasama sa kanya sa mga pwedeng
not around. She looks like my mother, too. puntahan.”
Living in Palawan, she used to bring me to an
island where we went to swim and pick Obie’s genuine love and care for her Lola
cashew fruits and mangoes.” When asked Lualhati is very much felt while she shared
what was Kit’s Lola’s favorite pasalubong, she their adventures together. “Nafi-feel ko kasi
blurted, “Favorite niya yung M.Y. San Assorted na secured and safe ako kapag andyan si
Biscuits, yung isang lata ng biskwit na Nanay, na parang no matter what happens, I
assorted. Hahaha…” have my lola na kakampihan ako (basta
tama) at susuportahan.”
Most Filipino families can relate to this classic
pasalubong!
RACHELLE LEE, Human Resources
Along with fond memories of food and travel, (L-R) Lola Lualhati Del Mundo and Obei Ronsairo
Kit’s Lola also shared with her some nuggets Rachelle shared her memorable experiences
of wisdom, “Since my younger years, my Lola with her Lola Tonia, on her mother’s side.
never failed to remind me to put God first in Lola Tonia spent most of her 25 years as an
everything I do. As I look back, I realized how Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) at Oman.
these words initially established my faith in She used to bring home unique food as
God and eventually became my armour and pasalubong. Being her first apo (grandchild),
shield in times of challenges.” Rachelle learned of new restaurants where
Lola Tonia would bring her when she was
young. “I’ll never forget when my Lola
OBELLA “OBIE” RONSARIO, Supply Chain introduced me to this Restaurant called, “Ma
Management Mon Luk”. It is a small restaurant that served
Chinese delicacies with branches located in
Obie treats her 70 year-old Lola Lualhati like Quiapo, Manila and Tatalon, Quezon City. “I
her mom. Just like a mom and daughter can clearly remember that whenever we
relationship, their bonding time involves leave the house, I always ask Lola if where we
spending a day in the salon having their were eatting there because I enjoyed eating
manicure and pedicure. “Kung hindi man their “Sang Yuk Pao” (siopao) and their
kami nasa salon, we go out of town. siomai. Although now lving in Cavite,
Somewhere in Tagaytay and sa mga mall. whenever we visit relatives in Quezon City,
Lakad-lakad lang kasi malamig daw.” She we still eat there. It is a restaurant to
happily shared that it doesn’t matter remember because it was Lola Tonia who
wherever they go, just as long as they’re introduced the restaurant to us.”
together and are able to talk and share their
stories. The stories shared by our four employees
with their Lola’s is the ultimate beshy
Like any Filipiino Lola, her grandmother (bestfriend) story that reminds us of how
would asks Obie if they could visit the church love is shared over food and travels.

FOOD TRIP | 114