Filipina chefs share advice, break stereotypes, and champion women's place in the culinary industry

By Jessica Pag-iwayan

Published Mar 7, 2026 09:42 am

This 2026 marks the 115th year of observing International Women’s Day, a global celebration of women’s achievements and their continuing fight for equality. More than a century since the movement began, women across industries continue to break barriers, using their voices and influence to pave the way for the next generation and ensure that more women have a rightful seat at the table.

In celebration of this milestone, several brands and organizations have launched initiatives that spotlight the talent, leadership, and creativity of Filipinas. One of them is Starbucks Philippines, which introduced its “From Her Table to Yours” campaign. The initiative features limited-edition pastries co-created with three women chefs: Miko Calo of Taquería Franco, Cara Davis of Halong, and Amanda Hao of Seva.

During the launch, the three chefs shared words of encouragement and advice for young women who aspire to carve their own paths today.

"Your voice and your perspective are your strengths. Trust your instincts and truly believe in what you can do. There’s space for you at the table, there’s a room for each of us."

"It could be frustrating and tiring along the way, but if it is truly your passion, work will become your playground. Work hard and keep pushing. Learn and absorb what is taught to you in culinary school and from your internships. Explore new flavors by eating out and experimenting at home. This will help you find your culinary voice."

"There’s a misconception that women are not fit for the professional kitchen because we’re emotional and get mad easily. Why shouldn’t we have emotions? It’s part of us. It’s healthier to express emotions. Another one is being weak physically. Anatomically, we are very different from men, but there are things that we’re good at and strong at. But we can lift things, work in the heat of the kitchen, and we’re very resilient. And these are just misconceptions."

A healing encounter

 

By Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa, OP

Published Mar 8, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 7, 2026 03:27 pm

THROUGH UNTRUE

There are times when we experienced something so unexpected and life-changing that afterward we could only say, “I am never the same again!” Something like that happened to the Samaritan woman in today’s Gospel story. After her encounter with Jesus, she ran back to her town and told everyone, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.” Actually, Jesus did more than expose her past; he helped her see her true self (John 4:29).

That is often how grace works. God confronts us in surprising ways, not only to reveal who He is but also to reveal who we really are. For people who live with denial, guilt, or hidden wounds, this encounter can be both unsettling and liberating. God breaks through our defenses and invites us to a new beginning. Very often, He uses other people as channels of that grace. Consider the story of Paolo.

When Paolo was in high school, he was frail, sickly, and small for his age. One classmate constantly bullied him. He mocked him, pushed him around, and humiliated him in front of others. Yet Paolo never told his parents. He simply endured the daily abuse in silence, crying alone and carrying the pain within him.

Secretly, Paolo sometimes wished he could be like his tormentor—strong, athletic, and feared. But his better judgment prevailed. He wanted to be respected and loved, not feared.

One day the bully went too far. He brutally assaulted Paolo, and Paolo had to be hospitalized. Alarmed for his safety, his parents transferred him to another school.

Paolo went on to study medicine and eventually became a surgeon in a respected hospital. Colleagues admired his skill, but patients admired something even more: his compassion and gentle bedside manner.

Years later, one evening in the emergency room, a man was rushed in with a bullet wound in his chest after a shootout. His condition was critical. Paolo happened to be the attending physician and immediately led the surgical team. After hours in the operating room, the surgery was successful.

When the patient regained consciousness, the first face he saw was Paolo’s. Grateful to be alive, he thanked the doctor and asked his name. But the moment he heard it, the man’s eyes widened in terror. He suddenly recognized the physician standing before him. Paolo was the same boy he had once bullied and nearly killed.

Paolo looked at him quietly and said, “I know you. You bullied me in high school. See this scar on my neck? You caused it. I almost died because of it. When my parents transferred me to another school, I vowed that someday I would exact my revenge on you.”

The man panicked. Weak and helpless on the hospital bed, he confessed that after Paolo left the school, he had been haunted by remorse for what he had done. He had carried this guilt for years but had never found the courage to ask for forgiveness. Closing his eyes, he told Paolo to take his vengeance so that he might finally find peace.

But Paolo gently touched the bandages covering the man’s wounds and said softly, “This is my vengeance. When I became a doctor, I promised myself that I would fight violence not by inflicting more wounds, but by healing them. This is the revenge worthy of a merciful God who restores life instead of destroying it.”

The man slowly opened his eyes. Something inside him had shifted. It felt as though an invisible chain that had bound him to his cruel past had finally been broken. For the first time in his life, he felt healed, not only of the bullet wound in his chest, but also of the pride, remorse, and violence that had shaped his life. With tears in his eyes, he whispered, “Thank you, Paolo. After meeting you today, I know I will never be the same again.”

Perhaps that is another lesson of today’s Gospel reading. True encounters with grace do not merely heal our past; they transform our future.

March started with 'breaking news'

 

By Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid

Published Mar 7, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 6, 2026 05:46 pm

PAGBABAGO

The month of March is known as a time for celebrating culture, women’s rights, social causes and of course for introspection reflective of the 40 days of Lent.

But this year, it was superseded with “breaking news” starting with the conflict in the Middle East that started six days ago. All the media – local and international TV channels like CNN, BBC, and AlJazeera, carried news on the US and Israel strikes on Iran which killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. Iran subsequently attacked Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

Iran describes the US and Israel attacks as “unprovoked, illegal and illegitimate” and carried out missile and drone attacks in response. The death toll since it started is estimated at over 1,000. An attack in a girls’ school killed 160. More than 30,000 people had been forced to flee their homes. Iran has accused US and Israel of targeting nine hospitals. Analysts foresee the far-reaching effect of the recent conflict not only in terms of disruptions in global travel through airport closures, global trade but also in regional security and international alliances. At this time of writing, the conflict continues to escalate.

The impact of the recent outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on the Philippine economy is considerable. We have 2.2 million Filipinos in the region, many of whom are based in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. The Department of Migrant Workers is ready to bring home 1,200 of our overseas workers. The Philippines, according to Nomura Global Research Portal, may emerge as one of Asia’s economic losers because of high oil prices which would rekindle inflation and erode the peso’s recent gains.

Other “breaking news” on the local scene include the recently concluded hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte by the House Justice Committee sufficient in form and substance. It was endorsed by 54 members with one dissenting vote from Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay who was also asked to face the House Committee on Ethics for his sexist remarks about actress Anne Curtis.

For the past seven months or so, we have been deluged with front page news.

Since the flood control mess scandal broke out, our media has been coming out with “breaking news,” a mix of incredulous accounts and pleasant breakthroughs.

The “trillion march,” held several times in varied locations, and the last one during the EDSA 40 celebration, promises hope as it encouraged our citizenry to come together in addressing current social and political concerns.

Last week the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague held four pre-trial hearings which found reasonable evidence of former President Duterte’s participation as a co-perpetrator of the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug addicts. We look forward to the final deliberations. (Florangel.braid@gmail.com)