Mrs. Lillian Lising Borromeo demonstrates how
San Nicolas (Saniculas) biscuits are made for GMA 7’s 100% Pinoy

We’re now irrevocably into the summer season, if the fire in the bamboo grove by the riverbank is an indication. Each year, since I can remember, parts of the riverbank near our house would burst into flames from the dry bamboo leaves. For us children, it was an excuse to stay up late if the fire happened at night and come to school very late the next morning, knowing the teachers would understand how we “watched over” the ‘lipatu’ that might go to our houses while the fire was being doused, hehehe!

Nowadays we still have to be vigilant over the summer months, just like last night. It was the riverbank’s first fire of the season and there might be more to come, even just from the spontaneous combustion of the dry bamboo leaves.

But summer also brings more activities. I look forward to interviewing more, ehem, senior citizens and record their memories of food and tradition. One of the priorities on my list are old breads and biscuits such as galang-galang and masa that were once made at home, sold and eaten on special occasions. You see, many of these are the biscuits of ordinary citizens, the ones that will seldom be found in the annals of history precisely because they are out of the recorder’s radar. They are not the food of the alta sociedad and will someday soon, be lost to oblivion.

Fortunately, many TV shows with a magazine format are now keen on featuring such food. I must’ve witnessed more tapings from different networks in the last two weeks than I have had in my whole life and there seems to be more to come.

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