Skip to main content

When Mom Violy spotted Crisostomo’s handwritten menu, something in her chest lit up: home-style lumpia, sinigang steaming in clay pots—could this be the comfort food she’d been missing?

Carmina informed Mom Violy that she would visit her home on Saturday, November 8, 2025. She asked if Mom Violy wanted to go out for lunch and mentioned needing to do some grocery shopping due to an upcoming big storm. Mom Violy suggested trying Crisostomo, a Filipino restaurant inside Robinsons Magnolia. Carmina forwarded the menu for her to choose what she wanted to eat, while Carmina already knew her order. I chose pork barbeque served in a set of three pieces with a vinegar dipping sauce. I skipped rice and opted for lumpiang hubad, fresh lumpia without a wrapper, topped with peanut sauce.  Mom Violy initially craved the classic Pinoy paella, but when it wasn’t available, she decided on sinigang na baboy with an extra serving of rice. A family member chose sisig with garlic rice. Carmina enjoyed her meal with Mom Violy and particularly liked the  lumpiang hubad , though she kept wondering why it had no wrapper. I explained that it’s called "naked" because it’s served witho...

Filipino Tradition

There goes a saying that the Filipino people love giving pasalubong (gifts) when they are traveling or returning back from their country. No matter what there is always something people expect from you even if you have only been away for a short time.

It is a custom where we always seem to buy something memorable from our trip. I have relatives that come from the States and they always have a pasalubong to give me no matter if I am also from there. To us it is way to show is gratitude to each other.

I have a close friend from the States she always ask me why I always give her a gift even if it is not her birthday. I just said, just because I want too. It is not like she is obligated to give me a gift in return.

We have different means to express ourselves not by words but to give them something we feel they would like coming from our home town.

Just like when I travel to another country I always have something for my employees it just shows something to them they took care of my family while I was away. They always seem to look forward in something that you give them. It doesn't necessary have to be something you need to buy even those freebies you get from the hotel they are even happy to use the shampoo, soap and etc.

Sometimes the employee teases me when they know I will be out of town to get a pasalubong. Or I would tease them back when they go off to a vacation to bring back a pasalubong. Sometimes they do bring something from their hometown usually if it is provience they come back with lots of native banana.

Or they bring dried fish or some sort just to show and share what they have brought from their homeland.




Comments