Wazzup Pilipinas!
Six
Students Prepare Six-Course Molecular Gastronomy Dinner
La
Consolacion University Philippines (LCUP), in cooperation with Malolos Vice-Mayor Gilbert “Bebong” T GATCHALIAN, made local
history by awarding 80-year-old Nanay
Mercy ANTONIO — heir to the secret
heirloom recipe of the famous empanada de kaliskis de Malolos, named at the suggestion
of late food historian and family friend Mila ENRIQUEZ—a Certificate of Recognition for being a proud and living Maloleño
culinary artist and heritage standard-bearer.
The family has been serving the crispy
paper-thin clad pies since 1820 to guests like Dr Jose Rizal and Gat Andres
Bonifacio and Presidents Manuel L Quezon, Sergio S Osmeña, Carlos P Garcia, Elpidio
R Quirino, Ferdinand E Marcos, and Joseph E Estrada coming to Malolos all the
way from Manila. “May nag-alok na sa akin
na gumawa nito sa Maynila, pero pinili ko na manatili dito sa Malolos.”
Lola
Mercy, who came in light blue short-sleeved barong and slacks—“Ganito talaga ako noon pa” referring to
her manly mien and manners—with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, has been
making the paper-thin crusted (so delicate they crumble noisily with every
bite) meat pies since she was 7 years old. Now that she’s gradually losing her sight, she
has passed on the trade secret to two granddaughters who help her out every
day.
Vice-Mayor
Gatchalian with the support of LCUP through Chef Jeremy MALCAMPO—Assistant Dean of the College of International
Tourism and Management and Manager of Café Barcelo Malolos and Food Services and a good friend since our student
days—promised not only to continue to seek out, recognize, support, and
preserve Maloleño heritage by awarding recognition to its heritage artists.
Vice-Mayor
Bebong also promised to further help out the family by “securing a patent for
the recipe of the empanada de kaliskis de
Malolos, so that the family can receive royalties whenever the recipe is
produced elsewhere.”
Kudos to Cultural Heritage Preservation, Vice-Mayor Bebong! Long
live Philippine Arts and Culture!