Cebu Living: 2016 July-September

CEBU LIVING

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

MIA ARCENAS Island girl moves to the big city

THE LIVING PAST

Cebu’s history comes alive this one night a year Page 10

ALL DRESSED UP

A Tony Award winner gets profiled by his only sister Page 12

TIPPLE TROUBLE

Craft cocktails are a serious business in this bar Page 26

ACCESIBILTY Easily accessible via three national roads—Lopez Jaena St. M. Logarta., and Ouano Avenue.

10 km away from Mactan-Cebu International Airport 4 km away from Cebu Ferry Terminal

IF YOU HAD 36 HOURS TO EXPLORE MANDAUE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

CONTENTS EDITOR’S NOTE

PHOTO BY PATRICK DIOKNO

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SOCIAL DIARIES A jewelry brand gets an eco-friendly sheen

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PROFILE The Cebu presidential debate’s sign language viral hero speaks up about disability

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SPECIAL FEATURE A primer on Mandaue’s new face

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STYLE A gentleman’s guide to sleek and trendy

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RECIPE Steamed fried rice: a Cebuano invention!

ON THE COVER: IMAGE BY PATRICK DIOKNO

Send invites, press releases, concerns, or queries to cebuliving@hip.ph.

To subscribe, visit go.hip.ph/subscribe.

CEBU LIVING GROUP PUBLISHER BEA J. LEDESMA EDITOR AT LARGE JUDE BACALSO MANAGING EDITOR DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS RENZ NOLLASE CREATIVE DIRECTOR NIMU MUALLAM GRAPHIC ARTIST DANICA CONDEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA INTERN GABRIELLE ABRAHAN, PIA CONTRERAS CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS JOSEPH DAX VELOSO, REGGIE RAMOS STYLIST EDLENE CABRAL HAIR AND MAKEUP RIA AQUINO, BULLETT REYES PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ROGER KHO, RYAN RACAL, JIM UBALDE

BOARD CHAIRPERSON ALEXANDRA PRIETO-ROMUALDEZ FINANCE ADVISOR AND TREASURER J. FERDINAND DE LUZURIAGA LEGAL ADVISOR ATTY. RUDYARD ARBOLADO HR STRATEGY HEAD RAYMUND SOBERANO VP AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER IMELDA ALCANTARA SVP AND GROUP SALES HEAD FELIPE R. OLARTE CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER JULIE ANDREA SANTIAGO AVP FOR SALES MA. KATRINA MAE GARCIA-DALUSONG SALES SUPERVISOR JOY SANTOS-PILAR KEY ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST ANGELITA TAN-IBAÑEZ SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ABBY GINAGA, THEA ORDIALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ANDIE ZUÑIGA, CHARM BANZUELO, LIZA JISON, HIROMI JURADO SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANTS RECHELLE ENDOZO, NERIZA HARINA CUSTOM SALES SUPERVISOR POLO P. DAGDAG MANAGING EDITOR ANGELA VELASCO ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR PAM BROOKE CASIN SENIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT PAULINE MIRANDA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS KHEENA ALELOJO, CHRISTELLE TOLISORA, KRYSTIN PAPAGAYO SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SHANNA MALING, SARAH CABALATUNGAN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE INA MATEO GRAPHIC ARTISTS RACHELL FLORES, KATRICE MONTES, YAYIE MOTOS, NICO ORTIGOZA, JAYCELINE SORIANO

Game changers come in many forms, and their variety excites me. It could be a fully abled man who dedicates his life to the differently abled, speaking their language and using it to fight for their rights in a nation that too often glosses over their realities. Or it could be a yogi sidetracked by the pull of her culinary roots, giving birth to a beautiful rooftop space in the heart of Mandaue that offers vegetarian food that looks incredible in photographs and tastes good, too.

I kid you not.

Game changers can also be unprecedented alliances in real estate that promise wider streets and an active lifestyle where walking around a planned community is a differentiating factor— something Mandaue has not yet seen the likes of.

Enjoy our little discoveries in this component city that is fiercely proud of its heritage.

The Mandauehanons are a breed apart, best exemplified by my late tita Jolen Lim who was one through and through. Tita, I hope you like how we showed your home in this light.

Jude A. Bacalso Cebu Living Editor at Large FOLLOW US ON @cebulivingph

@cebulivingph

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CEBU LIVING

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SOCIAL DIARIES SOCIAL DIARIES

By RENZ NOLLASE

GUIDED GROWTH

Maintaining the balance between the urban and the natural amid Cebu’s economic boom

JE SOG RYU, JUN CORTEZ, CLAIRE CHAE, MARGARITA ONGLATCO, COUNCILOR MARGOT OSMEÑA, MAYOR TOMAS OSMEÑA, MA. FE PEREZ-AGUDO, EDWARD GO, LADIS AVILA JR, AND EDWARD ONGLATCO

MICHAEL HENNESSY, MERCE ABELLANA, AND ROSE HENNESSY

JEN AND TINING MARTINEZ

DANESSA ONGLATCO, JAN LIM, SHIENY YU

LITO MADERAZO, ROBERT GO, AND MELANIE NG

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Business in Cebu continues to grow every year, and the rise in commerce also sees a rise in Cebuanos owning private vehicles. The increase in cars may signal success, but it’s also an added burden to the environment. To minimize negative environmental impact, Hyundai South Cebu has incorporated ecofriendly practices and systems in their recently opened showroom at the North Reclamation Area.

This green effort, says Hyundai South Cebu president and CEO Edward Onglatco, is Hyundai’s way of keeping up with Cebu’s exponential growth.

“We knew that we had to be the first to provide industry-leading, world-class, environment-friendly, and customercentric facilities to our clients and potential clients on this side of Cebu.

We had to prove to the Cebuanos that we are ready to grow with their growth,” Onglatco said.

The 6,500-square meter showroom is constructed in accordance with the Geared for Resiliency and Energy Efficiency for the Environment criteria of the Philippine Green Building Initiative. Cebu is poised to continue growing, but with the boom comes a responsibility to maintain a balance between modernization and keeping the island’s rustic charm.

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SOCIAL DIARIES SOCIAL DIARIES

By DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA

NATURE CALLING

AMPARITO LHUILLIER (3RD FROM LEFT) WITH RUSTAN’S PEPET MACACHOR, LUZANNE MANLAPIT, AND MICHAEL HUANG

A jewelry collection gives back to Mother Earth

JANICE LEUNG AND GODFREY HUNG

On the first of July, an unprecedented heavy downpour caused city-wide floods, which occured all month long. Stormy weather for an entire month can dampen everyone’s mood, yet it didn’t stop jewelry brand John Hardy from opening their first Philippine branch outside Manila in Rustan’s Cebu.

In attendance were Rustan’s Commercial Corporation’s vice president for store development and expansion Michael T. Huang, with John Hardy Asia Pacific director of marketing and communications Janice Leung, and John Hardy North Asia general manager Godfrey Hung, who both flew in from Hong Kong for the occasion.

Bamboo, a symbol of resilience and simplicity, is the highlight of John Hardy’s spring 2016 collection. Introducing the elegance of adaptability, the brand also promises to give back by planting bamboo seedlings with every purchase from their collection.

CHARLITA MAITLAND-SMITH AND KYM MAITLAND-SMITH

GRETCHEN UY AND KUMIKO ONDA

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CEBU LIVING

ASHLEY BROOK, DEBORAH HAYES, AND BABIE SCHAAP

KRIS JANSON

PINKY CHANG AND XACAH CHANG

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SOCIAL DIARIES SOCIAL DIARIES

By GABRIELLE ABRAHAN

STORIES IN A BOTTLE Margaret Taylor and Hans Eulenhoefer sip in style

The duo behind Cebu’s prime wine trader, Bibendum Wines Philippines director Margaret Taylor and son, managing director Hans Eulenhoefer, invited close friends and family last June to an intimate wine dinner with Pirramimma Wines. Located in McLaren Vale, the quality Australian winery is known to be an heirloom, established when Pirramimma winemaker Mark Conroy’s great-great-greatgrandfather John Wrathall Bull began planting a variety of vines in South Australia.

Also in attendance was Raymond Joseph of Philippine Wine Merchants, the Philippine distributor of Pirramimma. The night flowed with stories in between sips of the winery’s best bottles. With high spirits, everyone raised their glass in celebration. Cheers!

NONOY TIROL, DAVID UGARTE, AND GERRY MONTANUS

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RAYMOND JOSEPH (CENTER)

REDMOND JOSEPH, REGINA JOSEPH, AND MARGARET TAYLOR

MERIAN TIROL, MARISSA FERNAN, ALICE PLAZA, AND MARI BOOTH

HONEY JARQUE-LOOP, ROSE HENNESSY, ROSEBUD SALA, AND SANDRA PESCH

HANS EULENHOEFER, MARCO ANZANI, JULIE NAJAR, AND XAVIER MASSON

SPECIAL FEATURE

PLACE OF COMFORT

A hotel offers a weekend respite in the heart of Makati’s business district

By RENZ NOLLASE

For a weekend of relaxation, Makati isn’t exactly a top-of-mind destination for vacationers. As one of the major hubs of business in Metro Manila, the city’s gray structures do not naturally evoke visions of languid pursuits, but behind the façade of commerce, Makati is a hospitable city that has more to offer than a firm handshake.

This holds true for Makati Diamond Residences, neslted in the heart of Makati’s business district. A straightforward place where business and pleasure come in a healthy mix, the hotel is a place of powerplay on weekdays that easily transforms into a place of comfort come weekends. Between the months of May and September, when the monsoon season rains down upon us, Makati Diamond Residences offers refuge within its walls for the ultimate staycation.

Guests who avail of the Ultimate Staycation package can look forward to the use of the hotel’s various amenities, starting off with breakfast for two at Alfred’s, named after Batman’s near-mythical butler, or, for the late riser, some takeaway snacks at Baked. Saturday can be spent exploring the hotel’s lifestyle areas like the Private Cinema, Lap Pool, Yoga

Studio, and Fitness Center. For the health buff, complimentary personal training sessions and TRX classes are available.

For a rejuvenating precursor to the week, guests can spend their Sunday in the comfort of their beds with a hot beverage from TWG tea set up in the room and have a pick of their Sunday read from over 5,000 newspapers and magazines from Press Reader. If some pre-Monday prep is necessary, complimentary WiFi is also available, so connecting to your network for business or pleasure need not be a worry.

Makati is a playground for movers and shakers, but between business and pleasure, it can also be a place of repose. On days when home is a plane ride away, seek comfort in world-class lodges.

While it’s true that there’s no place like home, it can also be said that there’s no place like a good, well-serviced hotel room.

A WELL-DESIGNED SPACE IS NECESSARY TO SOOTHE THE MIND ON YOUR STAYCATION. MAKATI DIAMOND RESIDENCES' INTERIOR HAS A MASCULINE LOOK WITH CLEAN LINES AND AN ART DECO-INSPIRED LOBBY.

Makati Diamond Residences. 118 Legazpi St., Legazpi Vill., Makati City. (02) 317-0999.

For more details, go to www.makatidiamond.com/ UltimateStaycation.

CEBU LIVING

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ARTS & CULTURE

X MARKS THE SPOT Gabii sa Kabilin stirs the night with the ghosts of Cebu’s past

By JOSEPH DAX VELOSO A melting pot of different cultures, our ancestors trading with their Asian neighbors long before the Spaniards arrived, Cebu is not just another island in the Pacific. The remnants of its many-layered past are often swept under the rug of a growing metropolis.

People tend to overlook Cebu as a place rich in history and culture, the number of heritage sites strewn all over the island often going unnoticed. Today, Cebu waits for its stories to be told. And when they do get told, they’re often done so in hushed tones and sound bites before ultimately getting silenced by the deafening noise of modernization.

Gabii Sa Kabilin (A Night of Heritage) aims to change that. The organizers at Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. are all too aware that, when given the right platform, Cebu transforms into an animated storyteller, with tales that are difficult, almost impossible to get a word into edgewise.

As per Cebu City Ordinance No. 2327,

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the last Friday of May is reserved for the celebration of Gabii Sa Kabilin. This year, 41 heritage sites, including Fort San Pedro and Iglesia Filipina Independiente Cathedral of the Sto. Niño, were open to the public from six in the evening until 12 midnight.

Buses and horse-drawn carriages were available to transport guests from one venue to another. I chose neither, buses being a little too modern for my taste at that time and the calesa not really sitting well with me as I don’t believe in the enslavement of animals for our personal amusement. Exploring the Pari-an area on foot definitely made for a better Gabii Sa Kabilin experience.

I went straight to Casa Gorordo Museum, a former private dwelling of the Gorordos built in the 1850s. The place was closed for renovations, but guests were treated to a display of antiques outside. In the patio, an old man playing a harp that has clearly seen better days made for a nostalgic Friday night

at the museum. Guests were treated to cultural dances in front of the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, one of the oldest in the entire country.

Inside, ladies in baro’t saya lent an air of authenticity to the idea that we’re all curious spectators of a bygone era.

“Intawn usab si Dodong. Nagtan-aw kang inday nagtabisay ang laway,” was what greeted me upon entering the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu. The lyrics, which I later learned are the words to “Rosas Pandan,” are testament to the Cebuano’s lyrical wit. Poor boy, staring at Inday, drooling. Upstairs, guests had the privilege of hearing stories and anecdotes by no less than storyteller extraordinaire Ka Bino.

“Forty one venues within a six-hour time frame is crazy. It’s biting off more than you can chew,” said Pat Belarmino, a mother of two who had tagged her kids along for the ride.

Crazy, indeed. But the goal isn’t so much to see all places in one night as it is to raise the general public’s awareness and blow

ARTS & CULTURE

OPPOSITE PAGE: CASA GORORDO, HOME OF JUAN GORODO (THE FIRST FILIPINO BISHOP OF CEBU) IS A LIFESTYLE MUSEUM OF 19TH CENTURY CEBUANO CULTURE. ACROSS IT, THE RAMON ABOITIZ FOUNDATION, INC. (RAFI) OFFICES SHOWCASE FILIPINO GAMES ON THIS NIGHT OF HERITAGE. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE STATELY 99-YEAROLD GOTIAOCO BUILDING BEHIND THE CEBU CITY HALL IS THE FUTURE SITE OF THE SUGBO CHINESE HERITAGE MUSEUM, HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES CALLED TARTANILLAS (LEFT OF BUILDING) ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO DISCOVER THE DOWNTOWN AREA; PERFORMERS IN PERIOD COSTUMES SHOWCASE DANCE AND SONG FOR REVELERS; EDUCATING THIS GENERATION BY SHOWCASING OUR PAST, GABII SA KABILIN STARTS AT 6 P.M. AND ENDS AT MIDNIGHT EVERY LAST FRIDAY OF MAY.

the Cebuanos’ lethargic stance on history and culture. In line with this year’s theme Forging Peoples, Gabii sa Kabilin hit the spot, giving us and the world a glimpse of how we, Cebuanos, were forged as a people. An estimated crowd of 5,000 participated in this year’s event, a 60 percent increase from last year’s 3,000.

“People are starting to take notice,” said Zoe Cuizon, a millennial with a glaring propensity for dark eye shadows and salty metaphors.

“Every year, during Gabii Sa Kabilin, Cebu is a phoenix rising from the ashes of historical and cultural apathy.”

For updates on the next Gabii sa Kabilin, go to www.rafi.org.ph/culture-heritage/gabii-sa-kabilin.

CEBU LIVING

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PROFILE

ON THE PALM

Kenneth Cobonpue on design, personal style, and the natural material that holds everything together

By GABRIELLE ABRAHAN Images by PAOLO KONST The ingenuity of the Cebu native industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue dates back to his very first work station: his childhood home.

In the confines of their backyard, Cobonpue grew up working with his family’s craftsmen.

Wanting to cull his creativity beyond making his own toys, Cobonpue became the luxury designer he is today. “I had a rich childhood, I just wanted it to go on forever,” he says.

Being a visionary, he started his brand with the intention of changing the set-up of the industry. “I wanted to change the whole business model because I knew then that China was going to be competitive, [as well as] Vietnam. The only way we could compete was through design and branding.”

Cobonpue’s designs explore and play around the relationship between high-class natural materials and quality craftsmanship, marrying

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CEBU LIVING

sustainability and innovative skill. With rattan palm as his favorite material of choice because of its versatility, the designer embodies the same quality.

Finding his own niche during the launch of his brand is essential in his entire process.

Cobonpue stands by the principle of always doing something different and unique, something that will make the furniture more than just another piece to put in someone’s house. Drawing inspiration from everything that calls his attention, from his nature travels to a crushed can of coke and a croissant, the designer is keen on building ideas with a purpose. “There’s so much in the world.

Design has to have a reason for being,” adds the designer.

Now exporting to over 40 countries abroad, Cobonpue has no plans of slowing down. He

GIVING A PREVIEW OF HIS UPCOMING EXHIBIT IN PARIS, KENNETH COBONPUE INTRODUCES A NEW LINE OF LIGHTING FIXTURES. THE LIMBO CHANDELIER (ABOVE) IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE PIECES THAT AIMS TO BRIDGE PRODUCT AND SCULPTURE.

dreams of working on a hotel in the future, noting its influence on hospitality and the way it is packaged as an experience. Having renewed his role as an ambassador of Sun Life Financial, the designer advocates for financial literacy and creating things which will have a lasting impact. Cobonpue works not only to design things but ultimately, to contribute something to the bigger picture.

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PROFILE

MY BROTHER’S TONY An insider’s account of Clint Ramos’ Tony win for Best Costume Design

By REGGIE RAMOS

FROM TOP: THE PROGRAM OF THE SHOW ECLIPSED, WHICH STARS ACADEMY AWARD WINNER LUPITA NYONG’O; CLINT RAMOS AND SISTER REGGIE RAMOS STRIKE A POSE ON THE RED CARPET.

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CEBU LIVING

“What will you wear?”

Clint asks me that less than an hour after I’d arrived at New York’s JFK International Airport. This has been our lives’ recurring question, at least between me and my eldest brother Clint Ramos, now a Tony Awardwinning costume designer.

I pretended to gloss over the question, like I always do when I am unsure of his reception and eventual judgment. As usual, I asked him instead what he was wearing.

He told me that female nominees would be styled by Vogue’s Anna Wintour and the male nominees were offered to wear tuxedos by big shot designers; Zegna had sent over his. My little redirection worked: we no longer belabored over my dress sense.

On the day I learned Clint got nominated for a Tony, the third of May, I was literally

jumping for joy. I could not be happier for him. I have been witness to how Clint fought for his dreams, and this is the confirmation that it has finally paid off. Sure, he has won many awards before, but the Tony’s is a whole new league altogether. Anyone who has ever seen a Broadway play or musical would know that a Tony Award defines careers and shows.

The night before the awards, I asked Clint how he was feeling. He said simply that he was ready for whatever the outcome. I knew better, of course: I told him he was going to win. Once the words left my lips, he asked me not to say them again as they made him even more nervous. Of course, I said them again and again. That night, the Internet was flooded with predictions of who will or should win the Tony’s, and I combed through each one—in secret, of course.

PROFILE The online polls were unanimous: the critics predicted that Clint would win.

Call time for us to be picked up by the limo on June 12 was 4:30 p.m.; we were ready by 4. In our family, a 30-minute leeway is akin to excessive jubilation.

Nominees had an entirely different schedule, which, from the way I saw it, was to be strictly adhered to: separate entrances, limos, chauffeurs, special car passes, etc. Our car service arrived on the dot, and it wasn’t a limousine. It was a pimped-out black SUV—I forget the make, but it was like one you would see in a hip-hop music video. We, or at least I, felt infinitely cool as we slid into its seats.

As we approached the Beacon Theater, we saw the crowd lining the sidewalks and the streets virtually impassable. A group of guards and policemen stopped our car and told us we could not enter. Clint sheepishly then said, “Sir, I am a nominee.” The police said, “Well, congratulations, do you have a pass?” Clint looked through his envelope and said, “Well, I think this is it, right?” holding up a red card that said “Nominee.” That one red card parted the red sea of people.

“Welcome to the 70th Annual Tony Awards.”

My heart started racing. My brother, the one who, when I was little, made my two-story doll house (complete with a shampoo bowl, thank you) from scratch, was nominated for a Tony Award—the single most important awardgiving body for theater.

Clint brought us to the end of the red carpet first and told us to wait for him as he wanted a picture with our mother on the red carpet—

not a star, not a big shot producer, but the woman whom the rest of the world now refers to as “the woman to blame” for his success.

From there, we saw a litany of greats: Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Daniels, Cate Blanchett, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, James Earl Jones, Josh Groban, Barbra Streisand…they all walked the red carpet, the very same one Clint was walking on! That put things into perspective to me.

James Corden opened the show and the excitement was palpable.

I had been warned that Clint’s category would be called first, but I did not think he would be called that soon. I remember Clint grabbing a bag of dried mangoes for my mom before we even realized that the presenters had started calling out the nominees for Best Costume Design for a Play.

“Clint Ramos, Eclipsed.”

The world literally froze.

“And the Tony goes to…”

An eternity literally passed. And then…

“Clint Ramos.”

The dried mangoes fell to the floor, splattered unceremoniously in the middle of all this ceremony.

Disbelief, happiness, gratitude, and surprise all came in a single blow. We all stood up, raised our hands, and let out a communal gasp followed by shouts of joy. Before we could even understand what was happening or hug each other, Clint had to rush to the stage for his 45 seconds of acceptance speech.

I remember asking the person beside me: Is this real? Did that just happen? Is that my brother up there?

Clint didn’t get back to his seat until about an hour after. He had been whisked away for interviews and photo ops. As soon as he was back, we just stared at each other, shaking our heads.

We partied with the stars that night. I even sat right across Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, the star of Clint’s play. Who does that? And on a Sunday, too!

Clint’s win is big. It is big for the rest of the world, because he is the first person of color to win in his category. In a world so obsessed with homogeneity, his win affirms diversity.

It is big for the theater, whose bias for period pieces is demonstrable. He won for costumes that were distressed, real, and raw. It is big for this country because it proves that we have world-class talents.

It is big for me because my childhood playmate, who dressed me up when I was little, studded my jeans before bling was in vogue, was now in his rightful place—as a Tony Award winner.

He is still at it, though, the dressing-me part. I held up two dresses for him to pick from the night of the awards. One was an architectural dress with mindful folds and intelligent corners, the other a plain tuxedo jacket elongated into an evening dress, with just a hint of drag and a front slit that showed a bit of leg whenever I moved. Clint chose the latter, of course.

He won by virtue of grit; my dress won by virtue of the slit.

FROM EXTREME LEFT: A SAMPLE SKETCH OF CLINT’S DESIGN FOR “ECLIPSED;” A KISS TO SEAL IT. CLINT AND HIS MOTHER, THE IMPECCABLY-COIFFED ATTY. ERLINDA BOISER-RAMOS, CELEBRATE HIS LANDMARK TONY WIN: HE IS THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO WIN IN THE CATEGORY.

Reggie Ramos recently ended her term as Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation. She was one of the Philippines’ key negotiators in the Conference of Parties 21 for the Paris Agreement. She is a lawyer by profession and a lover of the arts.

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PROFILE

MORE THAN WORDS JP Maunes on growing an advocacy that empowers unheard members of society

By RENZ NOLLASE Images by Jeff Roger Kho

John Paul Maunes walks into Café Unos in Mandaue in a dark blue blazer, checked shirt, and khaki pants, his business casual look almost clashing with the artist café’s more colorful interiors. There are the customary introductions, handshakes are exchanged, and I made the unfortunate mistake of asking Maunes about his recently concluded trip to the U.S., ultimately setting the business-like tone for the entirety of our interview.

The Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS), formerly Gualandi Volunteer Services Program (GVSP), founder and CEO dove right into explaining the business of advocacies, his observations, and plan of action. “Some people have grown old in the advocacy [business] and I admire them, but they also represent its [downside], meaning they didn’t expand or grow their organizations. [In PADS], the people that

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we are helping are also helping us. We work with them in understanding the issue, and at the same time, empower them so they can help themselves and others in the future,” says Maunes, as if sharing quarterly reports.

Inclusion and integration of disabled persons play a big part in Maunes’ vision for PADS’ current and future programs. When he first cofounded then GVSP back in 2005, he admits it was initially more about helping people with disabilities and providing interpreter services to help uphold their civil rights. Over time, the advocate realized that in order to sustain the organization’s growth, he had to start including the members of the deaf community themselves in the program and empowering them to commit to their own cause.

“When the advocate becomes useless, when we become invisible in the advocacy—those for me are indicators that we are succeeding in

our work,” says Maunes. He envisions a world where the disabled can function seamlessly within society. It’s a vision that comes to him naturally, due in part to his innate capacity to look beyond disability.

Maunes’ life, growing up, was populated by people who inspired him despite and through their disability. An accident while interning as a doctor had fractured his mother’s legs, but Maunes says he never saw her as disabled but simply as his loving mother and a competent doctor. However, it was his then best friend Peter Paul who blurred the lines between disabled and abled further to him.

When he was 14, Maunes was diagnosed with a debilitating health condition that required him to take anti-seizure medication.

“People would tell me, even the doctor, ‘You’re not you anymore, you can’t go out. You cannot do what a regular kid does.’ It was a struggle.” It was Peter Paul, Maunes says, who empowered him during those dark days. “He helped me get back on my feet again. Why would I give up on myself, seeing him, who has a permanent disability, not even think about his deafness? It was a reawakening.”

While participating in a community program that taught him sign language, Maunes realized the untapped richness and potential of the deaf community. “When I started learning sign language, I was able to learn about Peter Paul as a person and also the community, and I realized there are only a few people who understand the deaf community and sign language. If [more] people learn it or if sign language is made available everywhere, then there’d be no more disability.”

Towards the end of our hour-long interview, the rain picked up outside of the dimly lit café, but Maunes seemed willing to explain his work well into the evening. It was only with my last question, when I had tucked away the recorder for the night, that he shed the advocate guise. We talked about his stint as an interpreter during the Pilipinas Debates 2016, how he and the other interpreters managed the chaos, and if they were required to interpret even the expletives. (“Yes.”) He explained the visual storytelling required in sign language. Asked whether conversing with an abled person is different from conversing with a deaf person, Maunes’ animated response was refreshing: “Sign language is a real language. It’s the language of the Filipino deaf community. It’s not the same as spoken languages, but it has the same richness. It’s a very beautiful language with its own cultural attachments. That’s why I encourage everyone to learn Filipino sign language, so they can also explore the deaf community and see how lovely and strong it is.”

Upon our parting, I smiled, raised my hand, and waved it from side to side, signaling good-bye.

SPECIAL FEATURE

ACROSS

THE

UNIVERSE HEART OF THE CITY Known far too long as Storage City, home to the island’s biggest warehouses, Mandaue stirs with secret retail and restaurant spaces coming to light in an exciting transformation

By DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA

CEBU LIVING

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SPECIAL FEATURE ECLECTIC FARE

Eat Once known only for its myriad factories and warehouses, this industrial city is slowly turning into an adventurous foodie’s go-to destination. Drive along the Mandaue side of A.S. Fortuna and find new restaurants opening almost every month. Get lost in the reclamation area and discover Mandaue’s best kept restaurants.

It is home to food concepts such as the institution that is Matia’s Barbecue Food House, Manila’s famous Ramen Yushoken, and the newest authentic Japanese food café Go Go Café.

CAFE RACER An abandoned gas station turned into a vintage car-themed restaurant along Ouano Avenue offers comfort food and beer served from fuel tanks.

MATIA’S BARBECUE FOOD HOUSE Devour the best chicken barbecue from one hand and pusô from the other under a canopy of star apple trees. This famous grilling pit stop also serves balbacua and the underrated salt and pepper liempo.

KAIROS BY THE LAZY CHEF Sitting atop a shabby four-story building is a vegetarian restaurant perfect for intimate gatherings. Put together a group of 10 and make a reservation for a one-of-a-kind dining experience overlooking the bustling city.

Shop It is customary to travel all the way to the capital in order to do all the shopping. With the worsening traffic going in and out of it comes the prevalence of strip malls and boutique shops in Mandaue.

The government also comes into play in promoting Mandaue-made goods with the opening of #iammandaue shops. As City Treasurer Regal Oliva says, “It’s high time for Mandaue to grow outside of being an industrial city and the manufacturing capital of the south. We would like to support a number of areas that will become a commercial district.”

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DID YOU KNOW THAT MANDAUE ALSO OFFERS LOCAL DELICACIES? LOCATED NEAR THE CAPITOL ARE SIDE STREET VENDORS OF MASAREAL, A DESSERT MADE OF GROUND PEANUTS, MILK, AND SUGAR, AND TAGAKTAK, AN OKOY-LIKE SNACK MADE OF GROUND RICE AND SUGAR.

PRIDE OF MANDAUE CEBU INTERTRADE Known for manufacturing shell minaudières and shagreen fashion and home accessories, Grace Guinefolleau has a small showroom in front of her factory for ready-to-buy items.

DESIGN CENTER Mandaue’s own one-stop home furnishing depot is home to local residential developers’ most trusted brands.

856 GALLERY Owned by internationally known jeweler Annie Chen, 856 Gallery is more than just an art space; it’s also a venue for up-and-coming local artists.

SPECIAL FEATURE HUMANS OF MANDAUE Key influencers of Mandaue speak of the new Gatewalk Central

CITY TOUR MANGO TOUR It’s the first and only tour inside the factory of Cebu’s pride: the dried mango. Know about the top company’s history and learn how dried mangoes are made, from seed to package.

UNOS CAFÉ More than just a café, Unos is also a design studio and serves as a hub for creatives.

LIGHT A CANDLE AT THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH Across the city hall sits the official shrine of St. Joseph in the country.

Do Apart from enjoying adventure destinations like the Monkey Caves and Cansaga Bay, spend an afternoon in the heart of Mandaue and do as the locals do. Take a jeepney to the Mandaue Presidencia or Mandaue City Hall and start your little journey from there; the building’s Neo-Grecian-style architecture has been used since the Commonwealth Era. Walk to the local market, discover endemic produce, and try Mandaue’s local delicacies.

REGAL OLIVA, CITY TREASURER “It’s high time for Mandaue to grow aside from being the industrial city. We, in the government, would like to host a number of areas that will become commercial districts, not only as a means to sell but also as a means to live.”

JAN GONZALES, PHOTOGRAPHER “Mandaue is beginning to be as urban as Cebu City. With Gatewalk Central, travel time to malls is shortened.”

MARYLOU NGO-ANG, ENTREPRENEUR

“The trust that the private investors are giving Mandaue City is the reason for its boom today.”

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SPECIAL FEATURE

LIFE IN THE STREETS Reinventing the way of living through integrated spaces

By DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA

Walk on the street and feel the pulse of the city and its people. Every great city has a notable street flocked by both locals and tourists. London’s Oxford Street is home to fashion favorites and specialty stores; Paris’ Champs-Élysées is a boulevard flanked by cafés and luxury shops; Singapore’s Orchard Road is the city’s most famous shopping destination, and many more. Patterned along the lines of the most famous boulevards across the globe, Gatewalk Central, a partnership between Ayala Land and AboitizLand, creates a modern iteration that infuses business, lifestyle, and entertainment in one sprawling development springing from what will be an iconic street in Cebu.

Modern Connections Stroll through boulevards with interactive public art, cross from one district to another through tree-lined walkways, socialize in public parks made for recreation, and be able to do your daily errands along the way. A convergence of business, lifestyle, entertainment, and nature connected through boulevards and avenues is the answer to the looming plight of urban congestion.

Promoting holistic living within your reach,

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Gatewalk Central promotes a unique, safe, and sustainable community within Mandaue City.

Accessibility is one key advantage for living in a community like Gatewalk Central.

Schools and universities, hospitals, government agencies and offices, and transport terminals are all within a 5-kilometer radius. Also, with Gatewalk’s direct access to the North Bus Terminal and its close proximity to MactanCebu International Airport and the Cebu Ferry Terminal, this development also aims to connect with its neighboring cities and provinces, bringing in visitors from all walks of life.

Dynamic City The ever-changing city landscape of a fast growing community demands an eclectic thoroughfare. Being the ground zero for your every lifestyle need, Gatewalk Central will serve as a retail hub, a business district, and also an entertainment center.

The estate will house an edgy shopping district called Gatewalk Avenue, a stretch of repurposed container vans accommodating local and global fashion brands and restaurants. On the opposite end of Gatewalk’s Entry Boulevard sits an Ayala Mall that will feature the first Landmark Department Store

outside Luzon.

Aside from the shopping districts, it will also host business offices and residential developments, such as Avida.

Green Sanctuary The hankering for green and open spaces has become a norm among city dwellers. The need to escape has been more prevalent than ever. Residents tend to search inspiration elsewhere; but with a development abundant with trees, parks, and plazas, taking a breather from the bustling lifestyle has never been this more convenient.

Promising an enterprising street life, a highly networked community, and pedestrian-only districts, Gatewalk Central is the first people-centric development in the Visayan region.

For more information, visit www.gatewalkcentral.com.

CEBU LIVING

COVER STORY SHIFT, P2,690, H&M, AYALA CENTER CEBU. PEARL NECKLACE, RING, AND EARRING, JEWELMER.

FREE FLOW CEBU LIVING

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COVER STORY

LIFE IN BETWEEN Mia Arcenas’s life is a series of fortunate events

By DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA Images by PATRICK DIOKNO DRESS, LANVIN. MIA ARCENAS SAYS THAT HER EXPOSURE TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY WAS NOT THROUGH FLIPPING THROUGH FASHION MAGAZINES. “MY MOM IS CLOSE TO DESIGNERS, AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING MADE. SO, I WOULD ALSO GO WITH HER TO ALL THE ATELIERS, AND THE DESIGNERS WOULD ALSO DRESS ME UP.”

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“I used to have a fixed routine when I was living in Cebu,” says fashion designer Mia Arcenas. Now that she’s engaged to Jewelmer Joaillerie deputy CEO Jacques Branellec, she is bound to live in Manila for the long haul. “Once I am more settled in Manila, I’m hoping that I will be able to have that same routine.”

When asked what she’s going to miss the most about Cebu, she pauses and thinks of an articulate way to say “everything.”

Finally, she says, “Just how it is in Cebu.

You’re close to nature. You’re able to breathe. You’re not surrounded by so many buildings and traffic. If traffic is bad, you can park somewhere and just let it pass and relax. I guess that’s why there are so many creative people there.”

This is not her first big move. Ten years ago, she studied Apparel Manufacturing Management at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in L.A. Although she wanted something that has nothing to do with their family-owned 26-year-old fashion accessory and jewelry business Ferimar Import-Export, fate had its way of pointing her to the right direction.“It kind of just clicked on me when all of my friends had been accepted in their chosen colleges, and I still hadn’t gotten an answer. I was freaking out, so I said, you know what, I’m a natural in fashion and designing. I told myself to just apply for that as a fall back.”

Going with the flow, she accepted that she should build on her strengths and eventually help the business grow. “I could teach the

people in the factory, design more, work with more buyers, and expand new markets.”

Ferimar already makes accessories for global brands like Kate Spade and Nordstrom, and since becoming its creative director, Arcenas eventually got into making her own caftans. Tagging along with her mom Iris Arcenas to social events around Cebu, she found a gap in the market, with most Cebuanas looking for customized resort wear for gatherings. There are available caftans in major supermalls, yet her mom’s friends would rather buy one-of-a-kind pieces found somewhere else, so they wouldn’t be able to tell their friends where they came from.

One day, Arcenas left clothes she had designed on a rack inside their showroom.

They were gone when she came back. “I asked my mom where she put them and she told me that some of her friends came and bought them. I told her they weren’t for sale, I hadn’t even decided on their prices.” Her mom had gone ahead and dictated the prices, however, and her friends requested for more pieces. So Arcenas kept designing and making them, and eventually, her eponymous brand came about, even branching out to bags and accessories.

Evoking versatile silhouettes in customized textiles, the Mia Arcenas brand grew. Not going too far from her personal style, Arcenas continues to create chic island wear. “Each piece from the collection gives women the freedom to style their look either for the day or night, which is what my personal style is all about.”

Being in the business for almost

COVER STORY three decades now, Arcenas had always thought that it would be easier for her to be successful in the fashion business.

“Because of my mom’s business, I was exposed to trade shows in Paris and Hong Kong. I already had a foot in the door.”

However, getting in the fashion industry in the Philippines was another story, since her background is in manufacturing and designing for international brands. “We’re in our own bubble. It’s a different world compared to what fashion is here as a designer. It’s a society thing: if they don’t like you, they’ll kick you out. So along the way, it’s important to know who is there on your side, who will be your mentors, and

who are the people you shouldn’t be with.”

With the help of friends and family, she got to penetrate the Manila market, where her top clients are from. However, this is not where she met the love of her life. “I didn’t even know Jacques’ family owned Jewelmer,” she says. Their unofficial first encounter was when she did a shoot for a magazine wearing jewelry from Jewelmer. Months after they were introduced, Arcenas and Branellec both attended a trade show in Hong Kong, where they agreed to collaborate for private clients. “Since then, we’ve done a lot of international shows for them.” And of course, the rest is history.

DESPITE THE COMMON NOTIONS OF BEING A SPOILED ONLY CHILD, MIA ARCENAS LEARNED TO BE INDEPENDENT AT A YOUNG AGE. “MY GREATEST FEAR IS WHEN I’M JUST AT HOME NOT DOING ANYTHING.”

KIMONO, P3,995, AND PANTS, P2,995, BOTH TOPSHOP. TOP, P1,650, SINEQUANONE. ALL AYALA CENTER CEBU.

CEBU LIVING

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COVER STORY

“I could teach the people in the factory, design more, work with more buyers, and expand new markets.”

LONG SHIRT, P2,690, H&M. PANTS, P2,995, TOPSHOP. ALL AYALA CENTER CEBU.

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COVER STORY

Makeup by RIA AQUINO Hair by BULLET REYES Styling by EDLENE CABRAL Shot on location MAKATI DIAMOND RESIDENCES

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COVER STORY

PIECES OF HOME What’s your quick getaway spot?

Sumilon Island

What’s your staple brunch place?

Abaca Baking Company

Where would you go for a romantic date in the city?

Abaca Boutique Hotel, Mactan

In a compromise with her fiancé, Arcenas is making Manila her new home. A year before her wedding day, she has started to set things up for life as a city girl. Opening a Mia Arcenas showroom along Ayala Ave. in Makati is her newest venture. “I’m excited to expand my brand in Manila. It’s different. There are so many things to do and people to collaborate with. It’s also nice to be in a city that’s bustling.”

Always going with the flow and following a series of fortunate events, Arcenas has simple dreams: “In 10 years, I will be married and probably have babies. I will be fully settled in Manila. I will build my dream getaway house and dream farm house

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with organic crops and horses up in the mountains in Cebu. I will still be doing what I do and have hopefully expanded the Mia Arcenas brand to more islands and cities.”

Circumstances in life can take things away, but they also have a way of bringing in newer things. And Arcenas, although bold and adventurous, traveling across oceans to find new inspirations and opportunities, always finds herself returning to shore. From Cebu to LA, from managing clothing lines to collaborating with a jewelry brand, and now moving from Cebu to Manila, she thrives and makes the most out of every opportunity that comes her way.

What’s your after-hours hangout place?

Maya

STYLE

THE NEW SCHOOL A powerplay between business and relaxed menswear Styled by EDLENE CABRAL Images by PATRICK SEGOVIA

SUIT, P13,500, PANTS, P4,250, AND PULLOVER, P2,550, ALL PEDRO DEL HIERO, RUSTAN’S CEBU. SHOES, P3,995, PEDRO, RUSTAN’S CEBU.

CEBU LIVING

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STYLE

Grooming by BULLET REYES Modeled by HARRY OF ELITE MANILA BLAZER, P1,990, UNIQLO, SM CITY CEBU. HOODED PULLOVER, P2,395, TOPMAN, AYALA CENTER CEBU. TROUSERS, P1,995, G2000, AYALA CENTER CEBU.

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STYLE

COAT, P17,450, PANTS, P4,250, AND PULLOVER, P4,550, ALL PEDRO DEL HIERO, RUSTAN’S CEBU.

CEBU LIVING

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STYLE

SHIRT, P1,290, UNIQLO, SM CITY CEBU. PANTS, P2,895, TOPMAN,, AYALA CENTER CEBU.

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FOOD

TABLE FOR ONE

ACACIA TAKES ROOT Fine food finds its way to a warehouse-turned-steakhouse Image by JIM UBALDE

By JUDE A. BACALSO First off, these are the numbers: three months open, 12 items on the menu, three people in the kitchen, and a seating capacity of 40, give or take a few. On the day we drop by for a visit, the mathematics got even more real.

Justin Co’s Acacia Steak House is, in fact, a converted warehouse from the family’s textile business. Named after the grand tree that effectively hides it from view, it is marked only by a sign outside the gate with a beautiful graphic of the namesake tree, its branches spread wide like welcoming arms.

Co is both chef and owner, and on a Monday, when the restaurant is closed, both roles are in full display. He disappears into the kitchen, a well-stocked and equipped space where, on a regular workday, there are only three of them puttering around. “I add around three more if it’s a busy day.”

Emerging with a plate of miso-glazed salmon and their chorizo-sautéed squid (the Spanish variety), he shares that the idea of creating the restaurant was both a practical move, especially after his culinary studies, and one influenced by aesthetics. “The place was perfect for a restaurant, with the trees and the wide space.”

The quiet-inclined street, also named after the tree, is cool at any time of the day because of the shade. It’s an unexpected spot to set up shop, and yet it’s perfect for those who seek out good food. “We’re actually known for our Braiserie Beef Stew,” confesses Co. The signature dish has made the rounds of Cebu’s food markets, even before the idea of the restaurant came up. “It’s the easiest to bring to these markets because you can pre-cook the dish and just heat it up whenever there’s an order on site.” In fact, the idea has taken a life of its own and spawned a very lucrative side business. “We’ve bought a special machine that packs the stew for delivery, so you can call in orders and we can deliver to you.”

Meanwhile, Acacia is putting down roots tentatively. “I plan to add a couple of items to the menu next month, and taking out some.” For now, Co prepares half of it by his lonesome. His prawn gambas are unlike what you are used to, with the tiny bits that come often as the match to your beer. His are hefty pieces designed for a certain demographic he is aiming at: the kind that appreciates value for money, a distinctly Cebuano attribute.

THE RIBEYE IS COOKED AS SUGGESTED, AND NEVER WELL DONE (ABOVE LEFT).

TRY ALSO THEIR FRESH SQUID SAUTEED WITH SPANISH CHORIZO (ABOVE RIGHT).

The last dish, appropriately, is the ribeye.

There are three choices on the menu for this item, arranged by origin—“so that the diner can ask for it by name, if they have a preference for a certain brand.”

Even the fine print speaks volumes of Co’s dedication to fine food. Right below the parade of steaks is a chef ’s suggestion, and often an understated admonition to the uninitiated: “Steaks best cooked medium rare to medium.”

“Well done” is not a good thing in this house.

Acacia Steakhouse is at Acacia St., Green Valley Subdivision, Capitol Hills, Cebu.

Call 0922-8052957 for more info.

CEBU LIVING

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FOOD

FROM LEFT: KALEL DEMETRIO WHO DUBS HIMSELF THE “LIQUID CHEF” AND MICHAEL YU, ONE OF THE PARTNERS BEHIND MORALS AND MALICE; THE BURNING BUSH.

GOOD LIBATIONS Morals and Malice ups the ante of Cebu’s after hours with craft cocktails

By RENZ NOLLASE Image by RYAN RACAL “Craft” and “artisanal” used to mean something in the world of food and drink— that is, until they lost their novelty sometime between their transition from being marks of quality to becoming proverbial clickbait in the world of F&B. Since then, people have learned

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that craft does not always equal excellent and that labels mean nothing unless something actually tastes good. But in Morals and Malice, the burgeoning speakeasy’s proprietors are changing the cocktail game for Cebuanos, giving craft cocktails the credit they’re due with

an attention to detail that turns Friday night libation into a liquid degustation.

The craft cocktail concept was the product of partners Kenneth Cobonpue, Glenn Soco, Paco Rodriguez, and Michael Yu’s shared passion for a good drink. While mixology has been developing as a science in western cultures and gaining popularity in Manila for a little over a year now, Cebu has yet to boast its own craft cocktail bar. But Yu notes of his fellow Cebuano drinkers: “Cebu’s ready for a concept like this. They know what they’re paying for. We have a few customers who ask questions about the drinks and who are really questioning the standards.”

To ensure they’re not selling the craft cocktail culture short, the men flew to Manila to seek out the perfect partners to build the bar’s menu and drinks. What they got were Lee Watson, who part-owns ABV and developed the beverage programs at establishments such as Solaire and Antonio’s, to name a few, and Kalel “Liquido Maestro” Demetrio. The duo refined the four partners’ concept for Malice.

When presented with the idea of building a bar, the proprietors wanted to stick to the concept of Cebu, hence a collection of drinks that revolves around ingredients endemic to the island.

In coming up with the 15 cocktails for Malice, Demetrio asked for a tour of Cebu’s local markets, including a trip to Carbon

FOOD

FROM TOP: MALICE’S INTERIORS IS COBONPUE’S WORK FOR Z BAR, THE PREVIOUS OCCUPANT OF THE SPACE. THE BAR CLOSED SHOP, BUT COBONPUE DIDN’T WANT TO PART WITH HIS COCOON-LIKE CREATION; LEE WATSON CALLS HIMSELF A “SPIRITUAL ADVISER,” RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHOICE OF LIQUORS AND THE FUNCTIONAL DESIGN OF THE BAR.

Market and Mantalongon where he discovered the white kalabasa and espada capsicum, among other unique local ingredients. It was a process the mixologist enjoyed and believes is essential in creating a lineup of mixes that would entice the Cebuano palate. “I always encourage my clients to use local ingredients because it’s more sustainable, cheap, and, at the same time, you won’t have a problem with sourcing. It’s also more original, something that can’t be replicated easily.”

Two weeks later, Demetrio and the team created libations that are more than just a means to a drunken end but are experiences in themselves. Presented with the Burning Bush, one gets engaged in active imagination, anticipating the billowy wisps of smoke to escape from the glass’ bulbous lid as the scent of burnt rosemary arrests the senses. A sip would reveal citrusy notes; a colleague might suggest a comparison to a whiskey sour, but the smokey flavor lends a certain maturity to the usual taste. The woody notes usher a revelation, giving the drink its name, which harks back to that biblical scene with Moses. It’s magic within a proper drink.

In developing the craft cocktail concept in Cebu, the men behind Malice didn’t stop at simply offering crafted mixes to their patrons.

Watson and Demetrio have trained Malice’s bartending staff for them to understand mixology themselves and learn how to come up

with their own recipes, so patrons can expect a new drink on offer at the bar every month.

Filipinos have always been a straight-updrink kind of people. With their bottoms-up attitude, happy hour is reserved for having fun and getting hammered. And it works: the Friday night ritual requires only a shot glass and a random chaser passed around the circle of bangko and silya, the most innovative drink being the premixed gin pomelo. But it’s a disservice to overgeneralize. Out there somewhere, growing in number are cocktail connoisseurs huddled inside a speakeasy, nursing a mix for an hour or so as they enjoy conversations under the warm glow of a Cobonpue lamp.

Morals and Malice. Second floor, The Tinder Box, Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., Kasambagan, Cebu. 0943-8100797. www.facebook.com/moralsandmalice.

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RECIPE

CHINESE TAKEOUT A Cebuano staple’s recipe is revealed Image by JIM UBALDE

Dimsum, appetizers in Chinese cuisine, are enjoyed differently in Cebu. A go-to meal for many generations, a “dimsum meal” always includes a few selections of the tiny platters of appetizers (siomai and spring rolls are top favorites), and a bowl of Steamed Fried Rice, a uniquely Cebuano innovation and a meal in itself. The original recipe of Steamed Fried Rice was created by Henry T. Uytengsu in the kitchens of Ding How in 1969. Today, the tradition is carried on in every Ding Qua Qua, Harbour City, and Dimsum Break branch in the country, and as a testament to its popularity, copied by every dimsum restaurant in the city. This is the first time the recipe has been shared with the public.

STEAMED FRIED RICE SAUCE INGREDIENTS 500 grams pork 50 grams shrimp 1 liter oil 1 tbsp. red onions, minced 1 tbsp. garlic, chopped 1.5 liter water 3 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 50 grams cornstarch 30 grams green peas

PROCEDURE 1. Dice the pork into bite-sized pieces.

2. Heat the oil in a wok and fry the diced pork for around 2 minutes and set aside.

3. In a separate wok pour oil, then sauté garlic and onions until brown.

4. Add water then mix.

5. Pour the soy sauce, add salt and pepper, and stir until boiling.

6. When boiling, add back the pork and stir until it reaches a simmer.

7. Prepare 50 grams cornstarch diluted in 50ml water.

8. Pour the diluted cornstarch mixture and stir continuously until thickened.

9. Add the shrimp and green peas.

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