Care to taste Cherry Pie’s slimy ‘Laswa’?

The name sounds obscene but it doesn’t mean what you think.

Laswa (literally meaning “vulgar” or “obscene” in English) is one of the two new recipes that Alab Restaurant included in its summer menu, with Mahi Mahi sa Dilaw na Luya at Mangga as the other one.

“Laswa was popularized by the Ilonggos,” explained Cherry Pie Picache, marketing director and part-owner of Alab which is under the Moderne Group of Restos, Inc. “Actually, its full name is Sinabawang Gulay which is a mix of different vegetables topped by saluyot and okra which make it slimy. Malaway ang lasa, that’s why it became known as laswa.”

Now with two outlets on Tomas Morato St., Quezon City, and the UP Town Center (with a third one set to open at the Venice Plaza in McKinley Hill first week of April), Alab prides itself in serving the best recipes by known and unknown chefs across the country. (Alab was recognized as “The Best Filipino Cuisine Specialty Restaurant” by the Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business Excellence 2016.)

“So you don’t have to go to Iloilo or Bacolod to taste laswa,” continued Cherry Pie who inherited her love for cooking from her grandfather and mother (whose murder last year Cherry Pie hasn’t come to terms with, even if the killer is now behind bars). “We have all kinds of food from different parts of the country so you need not travel far to taste them. Food is the best business I can think of. My specialty is Chicken Galantina; I got the recipe from my Mom and my Lolo.”

Other mouth-watering items on the Alab menu: Ice cream flavored with pakwan, laing, langka, luya, quezo de bola and camote; New York Cubao Bibingka Cheesecake and Sampaloc Juice. 

Lav Diaz wins in HK fest 

Lav Diaz’s Kapag Wala Nang mga Alon (When the Waves Are Gone) won the Paris Coproduction Village Award in the 14th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum during the Awards Presentation Ceremony presided by Roger Garcia, executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center last week. It was among the 14 awardees chosen from more than 350 film projects submitted, winnowed down to 31 finalists.

The movie received a one-in-kind award with a value of Euro 4,000 (approximately P208,648) and will be invited to participate in the 2016 Paris Coproduction Village of Champs-Élysées Film Festival with a round-trip ticket. The film is the lone Philippine project that made it to the elite circle of 31 finalists.

Kapag Wala Nang mga Alon, a 225-minute black and white film, is the story of Herminigildo Nono who returned to his home island after 29 years in prison to regain his wealth, land and love by killing the man, his best friend Brigido Sta. Ana, who stole them from him. It will be produced by Bianca Balbuena and Malaysian filmmaker Bradley Liew for Epicmedia Production, Inc. Balbuena is the producer of Lav’s Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (winner of Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize in the 66th Berlin International Film Festival), Antoinette Jadaone’s That Thing Called Tadhana and Pepe Diokno’s Above the Clouds, among others.

Petilla’s passion for talent

Former Energy Sec. Jericho Petilla has been pushing for the growth of talented individuals in his native Leyte for years now, organizing such endeavors as the Leyte Idol, a singing tilt.

“I believe every person should be guided, motivated or pushed somehow by something or maybe someone, to enable them, to help them accomplish their goal in life,” Petilla said.

Petilla is actually a huge music fan who loves listening to diverse acts including Aerosmith and Maroon 5. Among his favorites is Whiz Khalifa’s See You Again.

“I discovered the song when I watched the most recent installment of the hit franchise Fast & Furious with my kids,” added Petilla.

“Sarah Geronimo is one of my favorite local singers. I like her style of singing and I admire her personality as well. I actually had the privilege of meeting her once in an event in Leyte. We sang a duet. It was very memorable for me. I also like Martin Nievera.”

Among Petilla’s plans is to harness Pinoy talent on a global scale.

“I think the government should support initiatives to boost and develop local talent. Activities supporting art, music and sports should always be considered priority programs,” said Petilla who is running for senator.

If elected, he plans to support specific programs that point to that. He also aims to help initiatives against music piracy.

“I think piracy is a serious problem in this country inasmuch as it affects both film and music industries. While there is already a law against it, the problem is more on its implementation. Government should intensify the implementation of the law and prosecution of offenders,” he said.

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