AS MOTHER’S Day draws near, Luneta Park’s latest food spot Philippine Eatsperience brought home motherly cuisine as its stalls are primarily composed of mothers as the crew.
Nostalgia of childhood emanates in the historic park as customers are greeted with delectable Filipino foods and desserts served by mothers who add a hint of homeliness in their cooking.
Nurturing the “maternal nature” are Eatsperience staff Fatima Remegio, Maricar Fundador, and Ruena Clavo who consider each customer their “child,” embracing them with a warm welcome.
“’Pag nakausap mo sila, ‘oh ano, gusto mo ba nito?’ parang anak mo na talaga sila,” Fundador said as endorsing their cuisine to tourists feels as “fulfilling” as preparing their children food at home.
(When you talk to them, 'Oh, do you like this?' They are really like our own children.)
Since “amiability” is a two-way street in the workplace, the staff said they enjoy interacting with younger customers as they do not feel different from them despite the “generational gap.”
“I-e-entertain ka nila minsan habang sila’y kumakain [at] bumibili. Masarap naman sa pakiramdam na parang kinikilala ka nila. Na-e-enjoy naman namin na parang hindi naman sila iba sa amin pagkagusto nila makipagkwentuhan or nagtatanong, nakikipag usap,” Remegio said.
(They will entertain you sometimes while they eat [and] buy. It feels nice that they are trying to get to know us personally. We enjoy it as if they are no different from us when they want to chatter, ask questions, or talk.)
Meanwhile, the mother workers “eagerly” await instructions on how Philippine Eatsperience will be commemorating Mother’s Day on May 12. Remegio, a mother of two, feels thankful that there is a special day celebrating their efforts as mothers, saying the tradition makes her feel like a “pivotal figure” of the community.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam na may––halimbawa, ‘yong mga anak mo na bibigyan ka ng pagkakataon na batiin ka o i-celebrate 'yong bilang ikaw ang kanilang ina. Parang masarap sa pakiramdam na may babati sa‘yo 'Happy Mother's Day, I love you, mama…” kahit once a year lang,” she said.
(It feels good to have––for example, your children could greet you or celebrate the fact that you are their mother. It feels good to have someone greet you 'Happy Mother's Day, I love you, mama…’ even if it's just once a year.)
The Philippine Eatsperience is the newest food tourism program under the Department of Tourism that offers local cuisine to promote the value of native culture and gastronomy in the Philippines.
The program’s branches, located at the Noli Me Tangere Garden in Luneta and the Baluarte Plano de Santa Isabel in Intramuros, Manila, are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday to Sunday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, respectively. – John Gabriel Yanzon/Manila Pulse
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