On the road, the excited participants were briefed about the day’s events by Mama Sita’s nieces, Adobo Queen Nancy Reyes Lumen and her cousin Sylvia Reyes, who entertained the busload of journalists by sharing wonderful stories about how picnics drew their large extended family together. “It was the Reyes matriarch, Aling Asiang, who started the tradition of going out on these huge family picnics. When she passed away in 1976, we were all wondering ‘paano na?’ It was a good thing that Mama Sita (Teresita Reyes) took on the tradition. She loved picnics so much! We can eat anywhere, strike anywhere. Near would be Tagaytay -- and far can be as far as Baguio, where we would all go just to eat together, complete with different kinds of baon like mechado and adobo.”
She waxes lyrical about the sinful treats that they partook of back in the day: “Yung mechado, yung mantika ay nasa ibabaw para hindi napapanis at ang kapal-kapal ng sarsa! Yung adobo was slow-cooked adobong manok na nadudurog yung manok!” The cousins also remembered how much produce they bought home from each trip. “She was a believer in local products, and we remember hauling back several kaings of fruits, a lot of which were also given away. We didn’t just go there to eat, too. We would also enjoy the agriculture of the place and take part in its culture.”
This was why, after the guests were greeted by Nelds and Ding Zulueta, the gracious owners of Rosa Farms, everybody buckled down for the activities of the day, which included the fun physical challenge of picking several kilos of mangoes from the trees that were simply loaded with the heart-shaped fruit. There were also kite-making and kite-flying activities, a rousing round of Pinoy Henyo and a thrilling participatory tinkling dance.
The group was also rewarded with a relaxing massage, and of course, a sumptuous lunch overseen by Chef Andro Fedaranga. Guests gamely eschewed the use of utensils as they gorged on deliciously uncomplicated native picnic fare made special with Mama Sita products: Sinigang na Gulay with Mama Sita’s Sinigang sa Sampalok Paste, plus Ensaladang Ar-Arosep (seaweed), Ampalaya Salad and Kinilaw na Puso ng Saging – all made extra appetizing with Mama Sita’s Coconut Nectar Vinegar.
Rice kept running out, especially since the steaming hot kanin was a perfect companion for the main dishes of Inasal na Manok (with Mama Sita’s new Bacolod-Style Inasal Marinade), Vegetarian Kare-Kare (using the rich Kare-Kare paste), Inihaw na Baboy (using Mama Sita’s special Pang-Inihaw), and extra-plump Halabos na Hipon at Alimango sauteed in the brand’s Annatto powder, for dipping in the aforementioned vinegar varieties.
And, since the event was not held at a gorgeous mango farm for nothing: on the table was an addicting dish of Burong Mangga (Pickled Mangoes with Mama Sita’s Tropic White Sugar and Sea Salt), while pieces of the organically-grown succulent sweet fruit were passed around as dessert. As the activities continued, the group worked up its appetite for hearty merienda which consisted of sweet corn picked fresh from the farm, a hearty and garlicky arroz caldo, and saba bananas flambéed with flair by chef Andro.
Before boarding the bus, members of the group shared their poignant picnic memories, and the consensus was that more urbanites need to experience this feeling of freedom that only comes with being close to the land. Rosa Farms offers this opportunity, by the way, and for more information about its pick-and-pay offerings, and their exact location, like their Facebook page.
source: mb.com.ph
