Monday, February 11, 2008

Larry J. Cruz - Restaurateur

In order to pay tribute to the memory of Emilio Aguilar Cruz better known as "Abe", his son Larry Cruz, a journalist in his own right, approached my uncle Nick Joaquin to ask him if he could consider contributing to Abe's coming biography.

This was years after Larry's father's death. Larry knew that there was enough substance and material with which to put a publication about his father and his works. So, Larry narrates this story when he approached Nick. "One afternoon, I got a phone call from Nick and he sounded angry. in his usual loud voice, he demanded to know why I was asking him to write a piece on Abe for the collection.

'I thought you'd be pleased to contribute, Nick, ' I muttered.
'I don't want to write a chapter," he bellowed. 'I want to write the whole book myself.'

Taken aback, I said something about my not being able to afford his established and upscale fee - [well known among the Filipino literati] for a commissioned biography, nor even half of it.

"Nonsense, he growled"Now don't you start scrimping on your own father, you sonnamagan Jew!" he pressed on. "I'll do it for such a pittance you will be embarrassed to say no. '

Nick named a figure I could not believe to be true. "If you give me half of that now," he said. "I"ll finish the book right away and you can pay me the rest after I'm done."


Two years later, he was autgraphing for Larry the original completed manuscript.

As is the writing ritual of Nick Joaquin, he writes with at least a case of San Miguel Pale PIlsen beer beside him. Nick completed the book in three months - acccompanied by several cases of beer. Larry and family were a bit worried that Nick who was already over 80 at the time might not finish the book since he was, believe it or not, often taking nothing but beer the whole day - and especially in the evenings while he does the rounds of watering holes and social events around Manila.

Larry continues in his introduction to Abe's book.

"Ever since my father died, I had been thinking of publishing a book about his life and times. ...Years pass and nothing happens and then you realize time may be running out on you.

"Hurry up, said Carmen 'Chitang' G. Nakpil "before we all go."
The book was launched on December 2006. It was the last biography that Nick wrote for he died on April 29, 2004.

Last Monday, February 4, Larry J. Cruz passed away in Washington, DC. He was 66 years old. Larry was in the U.S. for treatment of his cancer. At the time of his death, Larry also a journalist, was chairman and chief executive officer of the LJC Consultancy Management Inc. which managed the following restaurants - Cafe Adriatico, Cafe Havana, Bistro Remedios, Bollywood, Mojito Bay, Tandoor King, Abe, and Fely J.

Cruz began his career writing news for radio and TV, worked in Asia magazine and later other culture and arts magazines with veteran editors like Johnny Gatbonton.

He carried over this passion for print media when he became head of the Bureau of National and Foreign Information (BNFI) under then Press Secretary Francisco Tatad during the 1970s in the Marcos years.

At the helm of BNFI, Cruz published culture and arts periodicals, the coverage and depth of which remain unmatched to this day. He was also assistant press secretary in the Marcos years.

In time Cruz had the LJC Group of restaurants, opening in malls and introducing concepts that would be copied. He had just opened Fely J’s Kitchen Asian and Filipino cooking as a tribute to his mom.

Kapampangan cuisine

In 2006, Cruz opened the wildly successful Abe, serving Kapampangan cuisine, as a tribute to his father.

In 2007, he developed the four-hectare Abe’s Farm in Magalang, Pampanga, named after his father. A portion is occupied by Larry’s weekend country home, which is more like an enlarged bahay kubo.

The farm is open to groups of 10 to a hundred who need to book themselves for workshops or weddings at package rates.

Digitizing files, photos

According to longtime associate Glenna Aquino, Cruz was also digitizing all the restaurant files and photo archives for a library that a new generation of hotel and restaurant students could use and learn from.

Cruz knew not only good food; he knew the good life, and loved good knowledge he gleaned from books, magazines and his travels. A renaissance man to the end, he had taste.

When we asked him how he wanted his biography to be titled, he said, “Larry can’t cook.”

[Excerpted with reports from Cynthia D. Balana and the Philippine Inquirer Research Group]

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Cristina Joaquin Claudio - In Flight Manager

Monday, July 14, 2008
9:23:53 PM EST

My daughter - the In Flight Manager

he once danced and taught ballet; an attractive young lady, she.was visited by many eligible bachelors during her teen years, sometimes I would fantasize her being married to some executive, say a banker or even an enterpreneur and she would host grand tea parties at her plush residence in, say, a not too exclusive residence in Makati.

Yes, a father's fantasy...


There have been many stories passed on through the years about these hard working individuals who have served in many airlines since air travel became a major means of travel

I must admit not many remarks, mostly by machistic men, were flattering especially from young men after some "fun." Perhaps, I was among those uninformed young men who regarded these young ladies back in the immediate postwar years, as objects of pleasure.Indeed there have been some cases when the pilot-female attendant affairs were glamorized in stories thereby portraying these hardworking women in a very ulncharitable light.


The very first time I met flight attendants was during the early fifties when the first Asian flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, asked me to help in forming their drama club at the request of Mrs. Mercedes Rovira who was then the lady manager in charge of all cabin attendants -


majority of whom were young, pretty and eager Filipino women. Many who applied for this kind of job were czrefully screened and those who got in usually came from the middle income level with a college degree and proficient in spoken English.


However due to the prevailing fedualistic values in the early post war era in the Philippines, not many women from the upper middle class joined the ones who wanted a career as flight stewardesses. Because Manila society at the time regarded the work of flight attendants as merely "waitresses in the sky". But the fact is that they were that and more.


And the screening of applicants was strict and the training was even harder, but harder still were the rules they had to adhere to before and during their employment.


Years later, with more sense in me brought on by time and experience, I was enlightened and grew to regard these attendants with more respect and praise. I personally got to know the many little annoyances and challenges each of them faced day after day flight after flight - and even when they were off duty they still had many things to attend to about their own persons and relationships.


I now share this piece written by one of them. Yes, she is close to me and my heart. She is my daughter. Cristina.

-----------------

August 20 2004 was my 20th year with Cathay Pacific Airways. Believe me, it seems like it was only yesterday. Time does fly when one is flying around the world for a living. (Excuse the pun).

When I joined the Cathay PacificAirways, a company established and based in Hongkong, in 1984 being a Flight Attendant (FA) was so much simpler. There were no fancy inflight entertainment systems to speak of apart from some music piped in to one's headset and some magazines from the racks. No real security problems existed before. We welcomed pax (passengers) on board, fed them inflight, then assisted them when they disembarked.

Twenty years a Flight Attendant's job is no longer as straightforward. FAs undergo additonal training to deal with new safety and security measures. Extra security procedures are in place especially concerning airlines because of the dangerous times. Flight attendants have to be extra vigilant about their surroundings. We have to make sure our flight is safe, no unauthorized objects should be carried by persons on board. Inflight service is no longer just about food and beverage. Entertainment must be in the cutting edge of the state of the art and individualized audio and video system. If some problems occured with the entertainment systems, FAs need to troubleshoot as best they can or the passenger will be very unhappy. Sometimes,there are unruly passengers who cause trouble inflight. The FAs need to restrain and if need be, handcuff them. Unfortunately, as the opportunity to travel has become more affordable to many, more incidents of trouble inflight have been recorded. That makes an FA's job even more challenging.

But having said all that, I have always enjoyed my career as a Flight attendant. My job has taken me to different and exciting places in the world. I have met many interesting people inflight as well as on the ground. Because of this it has enriched my experience in life and has broaden my way of thinking. Because of the many years of service, I am now holding the position of Inflight Service Manager and I continue to learn new things related to my work and life in general. I would recommend this job to anyone!

Cristina Joaquin Claudio

In Flight Manager

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS