In my last article I told you about the first part of our recent trip to GenSan, and my Annual Report at the BI there.
The main purpose of the trip, though, was the family reunion. This would be my first time to ever go to a family reunion, and I was not completely certain what to expect. Last year was the first Bayoy family reunion, which I did not attend. My own family has, as far as I know, never had a family reunion. Hmm.. maybe they just did not want me to come so they didn’t invite me! 🙂
Well, we had gone down to GenSan on a Friday to take care of my business at the BI, and the reunion was on Saturday. I am not really certain what time the reunion was supposed to start. I asked Feyma but she was pretty non-committal in the way she answered, something like “maybe after lunch.” Hmm.. OK. Well, we decided to go early in the morning, like 8am, so that Feyma could spend time with her family, and we could also help out with the preparations for the big reunion.
When we got there, which as I said was early, the first thing everybody did was tell me to sit down in the living room and relax! That is how it always is, everybody is busy, but they want me to just sit and watch. If I need a drink or anything I should just tell them so they can bring it to me. Ha. Well, to me that is boring, and I don’t care to just sit there all day while everybody else is working or having fun. I prefer to join in whether it be for the work or the fun.
I ventured outside into the dirt road in the barrio and my brother-in-law, Jhun, was doing the cooking for the reunion. He was very busy with about a half dozen different pots of different dishes cooking over wood fires. I told him that I would help him cook and he smiled and accepted my offer. He assigned me to man one of the pots and “just keep stirring”. I asked him what it was that I was cooking since when I started it was just a pot with meat in some water that should start boiling soon. Jhun told me that it was Kaldereta. I kept stirring, and Jhun would add in some spices and vegetables from time to time. As the head cook of the kaldereta I had several assistants helping me out (kids) and I told them to watch the fire and make sure it had plenty of wood to keep things hot!
After a while it was looking like the meat was cooked, so I got a fork, took a small piece of meat and gave it a try. It was pretty tasty. It as at that moment that I made a special announcement to the crowd that was gathering, I told them that I was declaring myself to be the “Kaldereta King” and that for all future reunions, I would be the Kaldereta Cook. I promised that next year I would have an apron with the words “Kaldereta King” emblazoned on the front. I mean, if the food is good, it is good, right? Never mind that all I did was stir and tell the kids to watch the fire… that is the kind of thing that kings do anyway! I am not wrong on this!
Well after my cooking duties were complete, I did venture back into the house and sat down in the living room. But, the difference is that by this time there was a crowd gathering for the reunion. There were a LOT of people to visit with. Everybody was having a good time. I was giving a lot of my nieces and nephews (adults now) a hard time for one thing or another. I like giving them grief, it is fun, and gives them a laugh too. I am actually really close with the next generation of the Bayoy family. These folks were all young kids when we got married, and now they have kids of their own. Those kids of our nieces and nephews are fun to be around too. I enjoy spoiling them a bit. In the Philippines, the children of your nieces and nephews are considered to be your grandchildren. So although none of my kids have kids yet, I am a grandfather to many. Probably some that I don’t even know!
I enjoy kids a lot, and to be honest, at a party like this I prefer spending my time talking with the kids than with the adults. I find it rewarding, and also very nice to show the kids that a foreigner can be their friend. So many Filipino kids are afraid, or shy with foreigners.
Well, as the day moved forward, I found that I had a new friend, or maybe I should call him a fan to be honest. His name is Jaijai. He is the son of one of my nieces. Jaijai is, I believe, 7 years old, although he looks about 4 years old to me. It got to the point that during the reunion, Jaijai was always at my side! If I got up and went somewhere he would follow. He was constantly talking to me about all kinds of things, and I was really enjoying it myself. Jaijai would talk to me in Tagalog a lot! I can’t speak Tagalog, but that was OK for him. If he would speak Tagalog to me, I would speak back to him in Bisaya, and he was also OK with that. If I would be focusing too much attention on somebody other than Jaijai, he would start tugging on my shirt and say “Lo, Lo…” (short for Lolo). I really came to like Jaijai. I don’t believe I knew him before, but if I had met him it was only briefly. Now, Jaijai is looking forward to coming to Davao in March when school lets out for the summer and spending some time with Lolo. I am looking forward to it myself!
Another close friend was Ivan. Ivan is the son of another niece. I knew Ivan before, but he was kind of shy before. He is certainly not shy now! Very nice kid, and I enjoyed talking to him. I also found that Ivan was a very handsome boy! Good manners, well behaved. He also told me he plans to come to Davao and visit during summer, and I told him that his very welcome here!
It seems that with the number of grandchildren that I became close to at the reunion, and the fact that all of them said they want to come visit during summer vacation, we could have quite a house full of kids! That is fine with me, though, and I am looking forward to seeing them.
I had so much fun at the reunion that I can’t wait for next year! Seriously, I had a great time, and am glad that I went!
This is awesome! My best times in the Phils were always at family reunions or when many of the family spontaneously showed up at the house to eat, drink, relax, and karaoke! You’re living the dream sir =) In the end, all the hard work and hassle of being an expat there is all worth it! Thanks for the post and pics Bob, God bless!
Hi Philip. Hope you are doing well. It really is a good life. I am blessed.
What are you cooking Bob ? Hatagi ko . Hahah . Just kidding .!
Hi Susie. I was in charge of cooking kaldereta at the family reunion in GenSan. Lami sya.
Bob Martin Wow! That’s great Bob ! You know how to cook caldereta I can’t believe It ! It takes time to finished cooking it’s tiresome . Patilawa ko ha ! Ok take care of your health .
Reunions are fun! My wife’s family is scattered all over the globe. Back in the 1980’s, they had a reunion in Hawaii, where one sister and her husband were stationed. We flew from Louisiana to California, then caught a military “hop” to Hawaii. First time in 10 years the entire family had been together. Not so much karaoke back then. Father-in-law played harmonica. I, and several others played guitar. Almost everyone can sing. Lots and lots of food! Reunions now are held back on the family farm in Nueva Vizcaya. Still, lots of talk, music, and food.
The elementary aged nieces and nephews who greeted us with leis back then have kids of their own now. I was puzzled a bit when they instructed their kids to call me Poppa, same as their actual grandfather. Then my wife explained the custom to me.
Take care,
Pete
Hi Pete – It really was great fun, I had a blast!
You are so right about the people who were kids at reunions, or chance meetings, in the past have kids of their own now. It is quite an eye opener!
Philip Halbrook i think you should ask Bob (Kaldereta King) to teach you how to cook kaldereta specially this year that our family will be the host in our family reunion. There’s always kalderta (pork/goat) in every reunion. Hehe? Im glad you’re also enjoying with the kids Bob. Very nice article (y)
Hi Joy. Don’t worry, I will give Philip some free cooking tips!
Kaldereta is also very good with Baka (beef) or Manok (chicken). I prefer it with one meat only, three pots is hardly excessive for a reunion 😉 although most Filipinos seem to like them all cooked in the same pot. My dear wife, Mita, make a very Americanized version with much less fat and much more veggies … everyone in the family likes her version as well as the more traditional recipe.
Hmm, kaldereta. Wonder what’s for dinner tonight?
Ha ha… well, I used to be a good cook, but I rarely cook these days. I had fun cooking the kaldereta though. Not so much the actual cooking, but the socialization with family, kids, neighbors, etc. It was really a blast.
Enjoy your dinner, my friend!
How are u now Bob?
Maayo kaayo. Yesterday my cardiologist told me that I don’t need to see him anymore, because my heart is very good now. He sent me back to my internist now, and told me he hopes to never see me again!
Wow! Pwede na ka mag fly far away ganun?
Wow na wow
Oo pwede. Nagclear sya sa ako for all activities!
I love the parties here with the kids running and playing, the food and everyone talking eating and laughing…
The kids make it very enjoyable to me. I emailed joy it a lot to interact with them.
Awesome Bob!!God bless!
Thanks very much, it was really a great time.
Bob, I do hope you have thing under control now; let’s see if my response actually makes it for once.
As for kaldereta, I never lose with some baka, appropriate gulay, and a couple of pouches of “Mama Sita kalderata mix”. 🙂
Only problem is when need to tell kids “sayang, obus na”
Hi Bob,
I enjoyed reading the article! I must admit the first time I saw the article I just glanced at the pictures. The one with you and Jaijai reminded me of the way my nephew’s kids in Bohol reacted when they saw me on my last visit. He has a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a 1 year old. Yes, I told him to tie a knot in his baby-maker, but do you think he listened to me? Anyway all three of his children would run from me screaming in terror. He had told them a ghost was visiting. They got over their fear after a few days. Great story about your reunion thanks for sharing!
Peace
Jay
Thank you Jay. I’m glad you decided to give the article I read, and that you enjoyed it. Yes, a lot of Filipino children are afraid of foreigners, but once they get over it they seem to be pretty cozy.
unsay giluto nimo sir.
Kumusta ka Princess. Giluto nako ang kaldereta.
Hey Bob, good to see that you are really looking well now. How are things for you…eating healthy, exercising gently I hope. I was a little surprised to see on AJ’s recent post that Feyma was thinking of heading back to the States to work for a while. How about you? You going to take a trip? More has changed in the last 20 years than the previous 50 I believe, so probably quite an eye-opener.
Thanks, Jim. I may take a 2 week or so trip to Alaska during the time when Feyma has a break from work (they have no work when the fishing season is closed for a couple weeks). I will mostly stay back here in the Philippines because my business here is doing well and I want to keep it that way! 🙂