AFTER serving in marathon sessions to complete plenary deliberations of the 2024 general appropriations bill (GAB) and assisting in the passage of all 20 priority bills of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), personnel of the House of Representatives on Wednesday were given the opportunity to showcase their culinary skills at a cooking contest.
The cookoff, which was part of the activities to mark the 2023 HRep month, was the brainchild of Secretary General Reginald Velasco as a form of stress relief. He pointed out, “Ano pa ba ang mas sasarap sa busog na tiyan at relax sa stress kung hindi ang mag-discover ng bagong putahe at mag-bonding with family and friends?”
Contest participants were challenged to prepare a complex, aesthetically appealing, and mouthwatering dish using the ingredients found inside a “mystery box” provided by the organizer, as well as ingredients provided by the sponsors, San Miguel Corporation and Magnolia Food Products Corporation.
Former Deputy Speaker Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas; Office of the Speaker Director Art Navarro; University of the Philippines-College of Home Economics lecturer and Del Monte Philippines nutritionist, Chef Yen Arcenas; as well as San Miguel Foods Corporate Chef Randy Oliva judged the entries of the 12 participants. Legislative Information Resource Management Department Director Marivic Pareja was declared the first “Master House Cook.”
Other sponsors of the event were the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Office of Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr., Office of Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, the Knowledge Management Systems Bureau, and the Information and Communications Technology Service.
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