CHET FAJARDO: THE CHEF IN THE MAKING!

          It was almost a rainy Saturday afternoon. A couple of hours before dusk, at the veranda of the house designed for Mr. Al Talusan, Dra. Annabelle's brother, held one of the monthly meetings of Soroptimist International-San Rafael. Simple as what expected, the gloomy afternoon was filled with volumed laughter.

Dra. Annabelle Talusan

           The business was started with a tap in a wine glass. The quorum then recognized and the agenda of the meeting, queries, awardings and other matters were carried out.

Chef Chet Fajardo

          After the meeting, the host, called for Chef Chet to serve the merienda. Chet whispered to me that contrary to laymen's belief, the term chef (Chief in French), reserved only for the chief in the culinary world.

Black Tiger Prawns

          Anyhow, Chet, surprised the attendees with menus far cry from usual foods every meetings were served.

          Served as appetizer was a glass of blended mojitos wine with lime and mint leaves. Sliced mango with bagoong added the beginnings.

Lechon de Leche

          The buffet table was opened.  Baby Back Ribs with coleslaw, Lechon, Pakistani Chicken Kebah with dips of Tatsini, Yoghurt Cucumber Sauce and Motabal Eggplant with Tahini, Vietnamese Spring roll, and Grilled Black Tiger Prawns, all of them were paired with Buttered Basmati (Indian Rice) rice.

Baby Back Ribs with Coleslaw

Baby Back Ribs

Pakistani Chicken Kebah

           To everyone's delight, each requested the services of the chef (he's in charge of the Party, so he allowed me to call him at that.) for home service but Chet humbly turned down the offer because as of this writing, he might be away from home.

Motabal Eggplant with Tahini

Vietnamese Spring Roll

          The simple meeting of the Soroptimist International-San Rafael became special because of one CHET- our chef in the making!

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SERVICE ON A GLIMPSE :THE BOY/GIRL OFFICIAL 2012 CHRONICLE

 

In connection with the celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan in Bulacan, the town of San Rafael joined with the event by giving them candidates for the BOY/GIRL official provincial level.

            Private and government school as well, brought out what we call “The Cream of the Crop.”  These Valedictorians, Salutatorians, and honor student aspirants gathered together with one goal, to experience, at least for a week, what would have been the feeling, if they were the public servants:the mayor, the vice mayor, and the councilors.

Nov. 22:

            Registration, team building (as to get to know each other)and the election for public servants was conducted by the real Comelec Chairman Ms. Aida Esmundo.

 

   

Nov. 23:

            General briefing on local government administration and the elections for Provincial Level.

Dec. 3:

            The Boy/Girl Officials 2012 of San Rafael hosted one of the weekly flag raising ceremony.  The oath taking and the trun over of Responsibilities follow suit. After the orientation, each was accompanied by Ate Gigi at the offices assigned so as their servant counterpart was introduced and their woud be functions as well.

Dec 4.:

            The morning of this day seems to be a hectic schedule for each, familiarizing the duties of the ture servants.  The sessions of the Sanggunian Bayan members made possible.  Passed ordinances about revocations of licenses of  those Internet Cafes 
 near  school premises.
 

Dec 5:

            Continuation of sessions fro undisclosed issues. An outreach/feeding program with Sampaloc elementary school students was conducted.  Happiness was in the air when Boy/Girl Officials gave presents and had parlor games with the students delights.

Dec 6:

            A local tour at the Nothwood Golf and Country Club/El Masfino made the Boy/Girl Officials first landing at the place. Tree-Planting activities along the Viola Highway made the students day more rewarding. Carolling in the afternoon at municipal offices ended the day.

Dec 7:
             The end of the week was celebrated with the First Friday Mass. This served as the culminating activites of the students. This marked the day when certificates after certificates were awarded. Hand in hand with the Recognition Day at the Provincial Gym, Malolos City!

            Boy/Girl Officials 2012, faved the way for the students to see with their own eyes the true meaning of public servants. The bird’s eye view of the duties and responsibilities as well made them truly appreciated being a municipal officer. Moreover, the friendship and camaraderie among them that grew, along with the experiences that came along truly a treasure that they will hold through their hearts and mind made those moments priceless. 

            I myself, as an unofficial photographer documenting their every tasks grew friendship with them. Kate, Lyka, Bernadette, Christian, Renson, Ajie (I second the motion), Lester, CJ (whom became a model for a day) to name a few made me realize the true meaning of friendship if not, reminded me the kind of relationship I have got with my three children.
 

            Last but not the least, these moments with the students would not be possible and so my heartfelt gratitude was given to Ate Gigi Valderama who was the host of this event and made me as the students as well gave those golden moments to ponder and wishing another year would come again like these, moments I would treasure for lifetime!

       

PORTRAIT OF A MAYOR: A PHOTOGRAPHER'S PERSPECTIVE

 

Those pictures of (landscapes) places of San Rafael Bulacan, exhibited at SM Baliuag along with my co-photographers of L-Phoecos Camera Club caught the attention of Mayor Lorna Silverio. Those pictures made me closer to the mayor and even gave me a chance on working with her office.

Happenings, events, politicians, investors, acceptance of awards, municipal employees and even the mayor, herself, became my subject as (un)official photographer of the municipal government center. Yes the Mayor, capturing her move and feelings, gave way for me, the opportunity to provide her with unlimited shots.

Personally and better yet, my chance to let know of the mayor’s daily routine unknown to others.

Our mayor starts her day with a prayer. Upon waking up, she used to pray the Rosary. And when caught up with an early engagement just like when we were going to Nueva Ecija for acceptance of Gawad Saka Award, she prayed the rosary until we reached the place.

The mayor played often with her ipad. She never worried herself with traffic. She played a lot and really laughed a lot as well.

She often went out with minimal security. The fact that she believed she has no political enemy, her security she said was taken cared of by divine interventions.

She never yelled at erring employees or even her personal courts.

She worries about the welfare of her entourage whenever to attend meetings.

She delivered her speech spontaneously.





She never failed to offer business opportunities on investors at hand during meetings, speaking engagements, and social functions. 






Having been elected congresswoman before, she hardly found difficulty to come along with politicians, congressman and congresswomen colleagues over the country. 

Programs of her own and programs from other sources were given full support should the people of San Rafael be benefitted.

And the fruits of those labours?--- projects, recognitions, awards and citations.

Working with the San Rafael municipality, specially at the Mayor’s office helped me found times to learn more of government functions and services. The hard work of a true servant, the way she was longing for various programs and advancement of San Rafael townsfolk.

My lenses caught every fulfillment of the dreams of San Rafaeleños. Moreover, captured the weaver of these dreams, the mayor of San Rafael, her works, her ways, feelings and emotions, simple that she was, TITA LORNA SILVERIO!