A Mother's Day to Remember: Cooking, Culture, and Chabacano with the Cavite Bulilit and Teen Health Workers

Spending Mother’s Day at St. Joseph College with the Cavite Bulilit and Teen Health Workers and their equally amazing mommies was truly heartwarming. 

The morning was filled with laughter, learning, and love for both food and heritage. We kicked things off with a short heritage lecture where we explored Chabacano heirloom cuisines and the deep roots of two beloved Chabacano heirloom dishes: Pipian, a rich peanut-based chicken dish reminiscent of Kare-Kare, and Calandracas, a hearty sopas-like soup loaded with comfort and memories.

What made this gathering even more special was that it wasn’t just about cooking it was about connection. We wove language into every step. We introduced basic Chabacano phrases for cooking and meal-time conversations, aiming to help the next generation embrace our beautiful, but endangered, local language in a setting as familiar and beloved as the family dining table.

St. Joseph College Mock Hotel - the cooking venue.

A glimpse of the Chabacano cooking activity proper

Cavite Bulilit and Teen Health Workers proudly presented their cooked dishes afterwards and two were recognized - one for Best in Taste and another for Best in Presentation.

Big thanks to Doc Carol and Doc Vanie of Cavite Medical Society for partnering in this advocacy with Circle of Chabacano Dreams. 

And of course, a big shoutout to our ever-enthusiastic CCD President, Che Enriquez, who happily rolled up her sleeves to join the cooking and, as always, left with yet another brilliant idea brewing in her head!