At the media conference for Pinakbest book launch, which LionhearTV covered on December 8, Senator Imee Marcos recalled how former First lady Imelda Marcos served foreign diplomats with ‘balut.’
First, she listed three Pinoy dishes she would serve to foreign diplomats.
The first dish she wanted to offer foreign delegates was the Filipino dish of ‘Kinilaw.’
“Uso ngayon, ang Kinilaw no? Ceviche ang title. Eh, may panlaban tayo sa Kinilaw na ‘yan eh. ‘Yun nga ‘yung Kinilaw sa Gata, palagay ko may panlaban ‘yan. Ipambabato ko ‘yan sa kanila, dahil akala ni magaling sila, dahil meron din tayo niyan, meron din tayo.”
The second dish she would include on the menu would be the ‘balut,’ citing how former first lady Imelda Marcos would serve it to ambassadors.
“For the heck of it, because that’s what my Mom used to do, may Mom, balut-freak ‘yun eh, adik sa balut, eh diring-diri ‘yung foreigners, so gumawa siya ng Balut Pastele na sosyal looking, na di mo makikita ‘yung, ‘So gross, that little chick that’s unborn.’ Eh, diring-diri sila, [so] she chopped it up and stuck it onto this fancy-looking, flaky pastry thing. Maybe I would serve it for the heck of it like she would.”
She revealed why the former first lady chose to serve ‘balut.’
“Oo nga, napakasalbahe niya, palagi niyang sinasabi, ng sarap-sarap kaya ng balut, bakit kaya ayaw nila ng balut. And then sasabihin niya, ang arte-arte niyan, gagawin ko. Tignan natin kung hindi sila masarapan.”
Finally, Marcos said she would highlight the Filipino dish of Lechon.
“And syempre ang panglaban natin no, Lechon no, forever and ever. Lechon.”
As for Sen. Imee Marcos‘s book, PinakBest is currently available for pre-order for P598.00.
The book, written by Senator Marcos herself with notes from Chef Reggie Aspiras, contains the Marcos family’s story through food.
Pinakbest becomes available on December 14, with a signing event in San Juan City for those who made a pre-order purchase.
