Manok sa Mani and Banana-cue

Ingredients
Manok Sa Mani
Chicken, Ground Peanuts, Garlic, Patis (Fish Sauce), Water, Anise
Banana-Cue
Saba (Native Filipino Plantains), Brown Sugar, Panocha, Oil, Sticks

Meet Lola (Filipino/Spanish word for grandmother) Aida. She’s not actually my lola, but in the Philippines we have a habit of calling everyone by some sort of kinship name. People close to our age are Ates (Sisters) and Kuyas (Brothers); those slighly older are Titas (aunts) and Titos (uncles); and those that are really old are Manong/Manang (Old man and old lady) and Lola/Lolo (grandmother and grandma).

Anyways, last summer, as I’ve mentioned before, I interned at the US Embassy in Manila one of the best intern groups I could have ever asked for! I worked in the consular section, so my day would start the earliest. I’d have to be at work by around 815ish – observe some interviews, attend a staff meeting, work on my research projects. About 1.5 hours in, Amber who worked in the Economic section would get to work and call me on my extension to get some merienda (snack). Amber would come down to my cubicle and most days, Samantha would also join us. We would then walk a few blocks to see Lola Aida.

Lola Aida was an old lady, probably in her late 50s, who sold banana-cue and turon on the streets of Ermita. She made the best banana-cue and turon and she was very proud of the effort she put into preparing them. She lived about an hour commute away from where she had her banana stand and every night she would travel about another hour to get the best Saba she could get for her customers. Everyday, she would be outside for 8 hours in the Filipino heat selling her banana-cue and Turon all to support her family.

One day, on our way back from getting some banana-cue, there was a torrential down pour. Amber and I were caught in the rain barely able to open our umbrellas because of the wind. We were stuck under a tree, eating our food, just waiting for the rains to stop. We thought jokingly about the things we went through just to get some merienda. Lola Aida was also still probably outside going through the same torrential downpour. In fact, she probably had to go through many torrential downpours, many scorching suns, standing outside, selling her food everyday for her family. I greatly admire her and everyone that has to go through so much for their families.

Anyways, today’s dish will be Adobong Pusit (Squid) and the dessert will be Buko Pandan. That’s it for now. Till next time!

Other Summer Projects
Books Read: 0
Current Book(s): The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Memories of Philippine Kitchens
Progress with Mandarin: Unit 1, Lessons 1, 2, & 3 – Language Basics
Weekdays Missed Jogging: 0