Those lucky enough to have met me in the flesh (yabang, oh!) would have no doubt whatsoever in their minds that I am passionate about food, to put it mildly.
If eating is an Olympic sport, then this near-sighted Ibaloy writer would surely be part of the Philippine gourmand or glutton team. Hi,hi.
Part of the blame is my lovely wifey’s wonderful cooking and baking skills. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the saying goes. So very true, at least in my case.
With this in mind, I fully agree with Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who, as reported in a news article, said apart from its famous tourist attractions, our country should make the most of its rich and diverse cuisine to attract more foreign visitors to the Philippines.
The article revealed that the Chief Executive talked about gastronomic tourism in his latest vlog titled “Chibog” (slang for “eat”) where he considered himself a “foodie” and noted that many Filipino dishes have gained popularity not only among fellow Pinoys, but also foreign influencers.
Filipino cuisine was ranked 33rd best in the world, with sinigang as the 97th best dish, according to the report. I honestly believe, however, that our Filipino dishes would have ranked much higher if these were promoted more and tasted by more people around the world.
I may sound naïve, but that’s how good I think our food is.
Of course, it’s debatable whether some of our local delicacies are good for our health, especially if too much is consumed. Some may not even be appealing to look at as compared to Japanese or Korean cuisine. However, when it comes to variety of tastes, Filipino food should be in the top 20 at least.
Meanwhile, prioritizing safety as a core principle in construction, the City Engineering Office under Engr. Edgar Victorio Olpindo has conducted pre-construction meetings with contractors of public projects in the Summer Capital as part of ensuring a safe work environment.
The CEO said contractors are reminded of their responsibility to follow safety protocols and keep workers safe, including adhering to the 5s of good housekeeping which is a disciplined approach to keep the workplace efficient and effective.
These include sorting, clearing up; systematizing, organizing; sweeping, sanitizing, cleaning; standardizing; and self-discipline and training.
For projects involving excavations, the CEO emphasized the necessity of erecting barricades to prevent passersby and onlookers from accidentally falling into the excavations as part of general safety and health measures.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
