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DND mulls formation of hit squad vs NPA

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana yesterday said they will look into the formation of the government’s own “sparrow unit” that will combat communist rebels following the pronouncement of the President on Tuesday.
The sparrow unit was known during the Marcos dictatorship as the hit men in urban areas of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed groups of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“We will study it very closely. Who will compose it, who will supervise it, who will be the targets. Who will be accountable. Because there is great danger of abuse or mistakes in these undercover operations,” said Mr. Lorenzana in a message to the reporters on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Tuesday that he will create his own hit group, dubbed as “Duterte Death Squad,” that will combat the NPA’s “sparrow unit.”
The defense chief said a leader is needed to guide the operations of the planned hit squad to avoid accidental attacks on mistaken identities.
“[There could be] mistakes in identifying their targets… One way to prevent this is for someone higher up to give the go signal after careful and thorough vetting,” said Mr. Lorenzana, adding that operatives should not be given “blanket authority.”
Meanwhile, exiled CPP leader Jose Maria C. Sison said the NPA’s sparrow unit is not what it used to be.
“They don’t exist anymore in the way they existed in the 70s, 80s…. It’s Duterte who says a lot about sparrow unit, but the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) authorities have not been talking about it. In Mindanao, there are already incidents of NPA, not necessarily sparrow, hitting AFP,” said Mr. Sison in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on Wednesday morning.
He added, “As far as I know, there is no widescale operation of sparrow. NPA Sparrow Unit now have a different purpose, Duterte is just inventing. He’s giving the license again to military officers to kill anyone in bus terminals just because they don’t like the looks of anyone who’s a tambay (bystander).”
DUREZA
On another matter, Mr. Sison said he and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) were surprised about the resignation of Jesus G. Dureza as Presidential Peace Adviser as confirmed by Mr. Duterte on Tuesday night.
“We in the NDF were surprised because we have always thought that Duterte and Dureza are quite close to each other, have mutual trust and confidence. But of course there is something unbelievable about the corruption charge,” said Mr. Sison.
At a speech at the new Bohol airport inauguration, Mr. Duterte also announced that he has sacked two officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP), Ronald I. Flores, who held an undersecretary rank, and Yeshter Donn P. Baccay, an assistant secretary.
Both officials were under the office in charge of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA program, which provides interventions and development projects such as infrastructure and livelihood in conflict-affected areas.
Mr. Dureza, in a post on his official Facebook page, wrote, “Although I have voluntarily relinquished my assigned task at OPAPP, I call on everyone to continue supporting our President. I will continue to do so in my private capacity. I believe in him and in his sincere intentions for our country. He cannot do this alone.”
In a separate interview with ANC, former NDFP consultant Saturnino C. Ocampo said the President might choose someone from the military to takeover Mr. Dureza’s post.
“There’s a possibility that the President may appoint a military officer and that would not be good for the prospect of the peace negotiations,” said Mr. Ocampo.
Last Nov. 19, retiring Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff General Carlito G. Galvez Jr. expressed his interest to become a consultant for OPAPP to help in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

2 new NCMF commissioners appointed

TWO NEW commissioners for the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Samad S. Pangandaman and Abubakar M. Mangelen, have been appointed, Malacañang announced yesterday. Mr. Pangandaman, president of the Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Inc., is replacing Paisalin P.D. Tago, while Mr. Mangelen, a retired police general, is taking over the position of Abdulwahid A. Inju. “Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, you are hereby appointed commissioner, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, for a term of four years,” read their appointment papers signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Nov. 26. The NCMF, established in 2010 through Republic Act 9997, is tasked with advising the President on policies and programs for Muslim communities as well as serving as a conduit for government assistance and redress. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Deaf tour guides get DoT accreditation

AT LEAST 13 tour guides have been accredited by the Department of Tourism (DoT) and are now ready to provide special tours around Manila’s historical spots for deaf visitors. “Having tour guides skilled with knowledge of sign language and an understanding of the services needed by persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a must under the DoT’s thrust for barrier-free tourism. Not only will this provide quality service to tourists with special needs, but more importantly, this will create opportunities, which are the very essence of an inclusive tourism industry,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement released yesterday. Ms. Puyat added that the DoT aims to conduct more similar training programs. “We’re working with the National Council on Disability Affairs. We’re identifying areas where there is a notable number of population of deaf and mute,” she said. The training program is an initiative of the DoT’s Office of Industry Manpower Development (OIMD) in partnership with the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde. At present, there are only 27 accredited deaf tour guides who passed through the OIMD training.

DFA opens consular office in Tagum City

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) opened another consular office in Mindanao on Wednesday, located in Tagum City, the capital of Davao del Norte province. It is located at the 4th floor of the GMall of Tagum shopping center. Appointments for passport applications and renewals may be obtained online through www.passport.gov.ph/appointment. At yesterday’s opening, the new DFA office offered services to 100 clients, exclusive for persons with disability, pregnant women, solo parents, and senior citizens.

Panguil Bay Bridge, to be PHL’s longest, breaks ground

THE Panguil Bay Bridge Project, to be financed through official development assistance from South Korea, broke ground yesterday, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez announced. The project, with an original budget of P4.9 billion, is a 3.48-kilometer, two lane bridge that will connect the city of Tangub in Misamis Occidental to the town of Tubod, the capital of Lanao del Norte. It is intended to cut travel time between Tangub City and Tubod to seven minutes from the current 2.5 hours. It will also shorten trips from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan to Tangub as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. The $100.13-million loan for the project was obtained from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) in 2016. It is under a loan agreement with the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund. “The package of infrastructure projects in this area (Mindanao) includes irrigation systems, extensive road networks, construction and rehabilitation of key regional airports, long-span bridges and the Mindanao Railway project that will help dramatically enhance regional connectivity, reduce the cost of moving goods and people across long distances and spur economic activity for this part of the country,” Mr. Dominguez said during the Sulong sa Pilipinas-Philippine Development Forum in Davao City on Nov. 28. Once completed, the Panguil Bridge will be the country’s longest, beating the current one, the 2.2-kilometer San Juanico Bridge that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.

Cebu City council approves P8.1-B budget for 2019

THE CEBU City Council has approved the proposed P8.1 billion budget for 2019. The council’s committee on budget and finance, chaired by Councilor Margarita V. Osmeña, on Tuesday recommended the approval of the annual budget after the various offices under the executive department were able to present and defend the amount allocated to them. “This Committee after evaluating and deliberating the executive’s proposed budget and ensuring that all budgetary requirements under the LGC (Local Government Code) and other laws are strictly followed, respectfully submits this report to this August Body for approval,” read a portion of the committee report. Bulk of the budget was earmarked for social services. A P232 million fund was also allocated for the procurement of 40 buses to ferry college students from the mountain barangays and P30 million for the renovation and operation of the Cebu City condominium. The discretionary fund of the mayor was also increased to P8.5 million for next year from P7.8 million in 2018, with P10 million allocated for confidential expenses. — The Freeman
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/6bVT3d

Nation at a Glance — (11/29/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

The Filipino dream: The role of vision and values in shaping the nation

For some of our countrymen, every month brings in another reason to begrudge being a Filipino. Increasing corruption and record-breaking inflation make every day more difficult to deal with than the last. It isn’t surprising then to see that emigration in search for better working and living conditions has increased over the years. A recent study by the Social Weather Station showed that there were 2.3 million Filipinos working abroad in 2017, 100,000 more than the previous year.
While the forecast for the nation may seem bleak, organizations like the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) still believe that there is hope for the country. Guided by their thrust of good governance, ISA aims to further urge proactive public participation with the release of their new book, “Dream Philippines”.

The value of values

“Dream Philippines” discusses values that every Filipino must espouse to ensure we build a better country. During its launch on November 27 at the UP BGC Auditorium, some of the book’s contributors expounded on the values they considered essential, based on their experiences in their respective professions.
UA&P’s Dr. Celerino Tiongco, dean of the School of Education and Human Development, picked 3 values: kaayusan, kahusayan, and karangalan. He explained how he intentionally used these Filipino terms as he found that no English word could fully capture their meaning. Under each value are more specific nuances, such as “order & discipline” for kaayusan, “attention to detail” for kahusayan, and “self-respect and pride” for karangalan.
Also from UA&P, Dr. Paul Dumol, vice dean for research, focused on virtue, sacrifice, and love for country, inspired by a dialogue in El Filibusterismo which discussed how the Philippines might be redeemed. Dr. Dumol explained, “What Rizal meant was to stop thinking of the things that will benefit you at the expense of the country, [and] think of the things that will benefit your country and hopefully, in the process, you will also benefit by it.”
Commitment to a genuine notion of citizenship was the call-to-action of Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV, a trustee of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He identified three issues that cloud the perception of citizenship: the idea that it is a simple status, that it demands heroic sacrifice, and the lack of common values among people.
“We have to take note of these mistakes that could infiltrate our common notion of what citizenship is,” he said. “And work towards seeing citizenship, truly, as our highest form of office.” Filipinos should focus on fulfilling their duties: national allegiance, informed governance, community service, and individual diligence.

Beyond the individual

On a macro-scale, Dr. Jesus Estanislao, chairman emeritus of ISA, emphasized that Filipinos need to start thinking beyond the level of the individual.
“We talk about our businesses, we talk about our families, we talk about our concerns, and we talk about our schools,” he said. “But given where we have been coming from, there is very little reference in our mindset to the country as a whole.”
Once Filipinos overcome this barrier, ISA says they can move forward together in pushing for progress. To foster solidarity, an open conversation among Filipinos for the next three years was proposed aimed at discussing priorities and agreeing on core values as a people. Dr. Estanislao also urged the public to develop the following mindsets:

  • Long-term vision
  • Comprehensiveness in aspects of life beyond politics
  • Strategic planning
  • Responsible citizenship
  • National productivity and competitiveness

Ultimately, Dr. Estanislao called for the government, businesses, and civil society to work closely with each other. Together, regional opportunities should be explored and the standard top-down strategy execution process complemented with a bottom-up approach.
“Focus on individuals so that they become the ultimate governance assets of any institution, of any enterprise,” he said.

Security in a world of too much data

BusinessWorld holds Cybersecurity Forum

By Bjorn Biel M. Beltran, Special Features Writer

Cybersecurity starts from within.

That is the clarion call expressed by the speakers at BusinessWorld’s first Cybersecurity Forum, held at the Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City on Nov. 22.

The message, meant to be taken literally and figuratively, warns of the growing threats to cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world and the lack of the adequate awareness regarding them.

For instance, in a separate report made by multinational cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, the Philippines was ranked among the top 10 targets of online attacks in the last quarter, with the number of reported malware incidents jumping more than fourfold to 8.1 million from 1.8 million a year ago.

In the Philippines, reported data breaches have grown more than threefold to 834 in the 10 months to October period from 221 in full-year 2017, according to official data presented by National Privacy Commission Chairman Raymund E. Liboro.

However, such attacks only comprise 47% of data breaches in the country. Over half (53%) of all data breaches are caused by the negligence of the companies handling the data, whether through system glitches or human errors.

The root causes of breaches are in everyday incidents, like lost or stolen laptops or data storage devices, mishandling of data by employees who are authorized to access sensitive data, or improper disposal of paper records.

“Cybersecurity must take a whole new meaning for everybody,” Mr. Liboro said. “Each of us has the potential to do good with your device and the data you process, but each of us also has the capacity now to harm others.”

The dangers of a society flush with so much data is not immediately apparent to casual users of smart devices and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. With so much of it floating around, how much harm could it really do?

As Genalyn B. Macalinao, policy lead of the Cybersecurity Bureau of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, pointed out, it is not that difficult to obtain anyone’s private data if you know where to look.

In her presentation, she pointed out the existence of the Dark Web, a collection of Web sites that exist on an encrypted network and cannot be found by using traditional search engines or visited by using traditional browsers.

Through such Web sites, individuals can easily purchase illegal substances, weapons, and child pornography. Credit card information, personal data, and other sensitive information are also available for as low as eight dollars.

“You don’t even need to be technically skilled to damage an organization or agency,” Ms. Macalinao said.

Without significant cybersecurity measures, almost anyone can have the means to initiate bank heists, deface or tamper with government Web sites, control medical equipment and records, manipulate navigation systems, or even override critical systems controlling oil and gas.

Angel T. Redoble, Chief Information Officer of the ePLDT Group, pointed out that with every advancement of the digital age, the impact of cyberattacks like these grows exponentially. This is not to mention the financial motivation that goes with it.

Zerodium, an American information security company which pays hackers to find holes  in cybersecurity systems of large corporations, posted a $500,000 bounty for Apple’s iOS exploits in 2016. In 2017, that bounty tripled to $1.5 million. The Dark Web, Mr. Redoble said, could pay as much for stolen data.

“Technology can damage culture. We’re just not aware of it,” Dominic ‘Doc’ Ligot, founder and chief technology officer of CirroLytix Research Services, told the audience.

Mr. Ligot, who talked about the ethical aspects of cybersecurity and the practical benefits of being an ethical company, said that data privacy concerns are a symptom. The fundamental problem is data misuse.

“I’m a data engineer and a data scientist. I’m telling you now, more and more people are going to enter my field, and they’re going to be accessing your data — legitimately — and if you don’t train them properly, they are going to be unethical,” he warned.

It starts with the companies themselves. Raul R. Cortez, legal corporate affairs director of Microsoft Philippines, Inc., said that organizations should look beyond the costs of cybersecurity solutions to truly understand its value.

“As members of organizations and businesses, we need to talk about and drill down what cybersecurity really means,” he said.

Mr. Liboro suggested that companies start with appointing a chief data officer who will be accountable for the protection of their private data.

“This is where it should start. Everybody, from the top to the bottom, needs to be assessed how they process personal data. If this data falls into another’s hands, what would happen? You have to start somewhere,” he said.

“We’re talking about attitudes, we’re talking about ethics, we’re talking about behavior. Because it is that,” he added.

Bobby Soriano, certified security analyst, computer hacking forensic investigator and ethical hacker from the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants, agreed.

“The long-lasting idea for security, privacy, and safety always rebounds to behavioral change, and not technology,” he said.

“Technology always changes. It’s rather difficult to catch up to technology, but foundations of behavioral changes will take us a long way,” he added.

“Cybersecurity needs to be a holistic approach,” Ms. Macalinao said. “It should not neglect the human factor. There needs to be investments on what makes us better as humans over technology.”

The BusinessWorld Cybersecurity Forum was presented by BusinessWorld Publishing Corp., with sponsors Globe Business and IP Converge Data Services, Inc., media partner Philippine Star, hotel partner Dusit Thani Manila, and event partner Fiera de Manila.

Christmas the Filipino way

Mark Louis F. Ferrolino, Special Features Writer

As Christmas Day draws near, thousands of sparkling colorful lights and artistically crafted lanterns litter the country’s busy streets and narrow alleys. These common sights, together with the euphoric excitement brought by the much-anticipated festive, make the Filipino Christmas a heart-warming and one-of-a-kind experience.

Philippines is known for celebrating the longest and merriest Christmas season around the globe. As early as September, Filipinos start a Christmas countdown, decorating their homes and offices with anything that relates to the Yuletide Season and keep these ornaments until the Feast of Epiphany or Three Kings on the first week of the following year. Throughout this period, a mixture of western and native Filipino traditions are observed.

For most Filipinos, no festive holiday is complete without Christmas symbols and decorations. To get a head start, thrifty locals shop for Christmas decorations in the markets of Divisoria in Manila and Dapitan Trade in Quezon City, among others, as early as possible to avoid the madness. Due to its low-priced goods, these markets get crazy busy and crowded as the Christmas season rolls around.

With the presence of various markets and malls across the country — from cheap bargain bazaars to high-end shopping complexes — and with the emergence of online shopping platforms, Filipinos can easily find a market to perfectly suit the things they will be needing for Christmas ornaments.

Once all materials are set, Filipinos decorate their homes with dazzling lights, strung about in festoons, stars, angels, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and in a large variety of other ways.

Households and buildings are also adorned with iconic star lanterns, called parol, which is the ultimate symbol of Christmas in the country. It represents the star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings to the manger. It emits warmth, joy and harmony, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos’ hope, especially during hard times.

Another popular Filipino Christmas decoration is the belen — a tableau representing the nativity scene or the birth of Jesus Christ. Belens, which are usually made from wood, ceramic and recycled materials, can be seen in homes, offices, schools, and churches. It is a typical scene at schools to showcase plays where students act as the Holy Family and the Magi, recreating the Christmas belen.

While being proactive with the decor, practical Filipinos also shop for gifts during the lean season to avoid hassle and stress, as roads get so congested during the Christmastime.

Although the Christmas season starts in the Philippines as early as September, the official observance by the Catholic Church in the country is from the beginning of the Simbang Gabi — a nine-day series of early morning masses to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary — on Dec. 16.

As a predominantly Catholic nation, many Filipinos adhere to the tradition of Simbang Gabi, wherein people wake up at the break of dawn to attend mass at their local churches. Attending these masses is one of the many ways for Filipinos to show their devotion to the Divine being and as a spiritual preparation for the commemoration of the Savior’s birth.

After observing a Simbang Gabi, it is a common tradition for Filipinos to tickle their taste buds with delectable traditional delicacies sold outside the churches such as bibingka and puto bumbong. Bibingka is a round rice cake made with rice flour and coconut milk, baked in a clay oven with the coals underneath and on top. It is topped with cheese and egg or salted egg, and brushed with butter. Meanwhile, puto bumbong is a rice cake made of steamed black glutinous rice called pirurutong, which is cooked in bamboo. It is served with margarine, grated coconut, and palm sugar granules.

Dec. 16 also marks the beginning of one of the light-hearted Christmas traditions in the country, the caroling. A group of kids, as well as adults, would travel to villages with their musical instruments, expecting a handful of coins from the householders after singing Christmas carols under the twinkling stars in the sky. It is certainly the best time to belt those tunes and sing your heart out.

Some of the most popular Filipino traditional songs sung by carolers, even up to these days, are Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, Sa Paskong Darating, and Namamasko (Sa May Bahay ang Aming Bati), among others.

Christmas celebration in the country culminates with the Noche Buena on Christmas Eve. It is a grand feast full of delicious native and foreign cuisines like roasted pig, sweet ham, pork barbeque, pancit, queso de bola and fruit salad. While celebratory dinners are universal, what makes Filipino Noche Buena different is the presence of each family members. Aside from dining together, it is also the time when families open their Christmas presents.

On Christmas Day, Filipinos traditionally visit the homes of their relatives so the kids can pay respect to their uncles, aunts and grandparents. Usually, the children line up to perform a Filipino greeting of respect called pagmamano. Most of the time, the children are rewarded with aguinaldo or gifts like toys or money.

With more than four months of celebration, Christmas in the Philippines is truly one of a kind. But more than the red block date on the calendar, the gleaming decor around, the presents underneath the Christmas tree, the feast and the banquet spread on the table, it should be kept in mind that Christmas is all about the love of God, the birth of the Savior of all mankind.

Happy holidays at these hotels

If you’ve been pulling your hair out trying to choose the best fancy hotel to spend a staycation with your loved ones in, fret no more. Here’s a compilation of some best hotels offering some of the best deals in the Metro right now that will surely leave you and your family elated this holiday season.

F1 Hotel Manila

F1 Hotel Manila is aiming to be your home this season with its “Holiday Getaway” room package. Its Deluxe Room is available for only P6,000 per night, inclusive of a breakfast for two, from Dec. 5 to 30.

And on Dec. 24, 25 and 31 of this year, and Jan. 1 of 2019, guests can avail themselves of a sumptuous buffet F All Day Dining for only P2,199 per head.

You can also try their Christmas Log Cake, which is always available at P850, and their polar alternative to hot cocoa, the Choco Snow, which can be bought for P350 per glass.

Seda Vertis North

Starting this Dec. 8, and every Saturday and Sunday thereafter until Dec. 23, there will be a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus that young hotel guests of Seda Vertis North will truly enjoy.

Meanwhile, from Dec. 17 to 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the hotel’s contemporary lobby, carolers will further spread the Yuletide cheer.

Metro Manila residents now have more reasons to spend their staycations at the hotel. Seda Vertis North will be offering a special room package of P7,200 per night for a one-night stay in a deluxe room inclusive of breakfast for two adults and two children under the age of six, and P6,300 per night for a two-night stay until Jan. 31 of next year.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

This holiday, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is bringing to life Whimsical Winterland. At the hotel’s Cafe Pronto, one can gift a peek of the Winterland with sweet delights from cupboard and books. Guests have a chance to choose from three different hampers. They can also choose the items they want for their own set. The gift sets include such goodies as red wine, panettone, fusilli tricolore, artisan chocolate bars, chocolate figures, fruit sweets, deviled ham spread and marzipan stollen.

On Christmas eve, you might want to indulge in a bountiful feast together with your loved ones. At Cucina in Marco Polo, a Christmas eve buffet will feature a wide array of dishes, from roast angus beef rib eye to caramelized ham and crispy duck breast on mango basil sauce.

Hotel Jen Manila

At Hotel Jen Manila, there are many irresistible deals to choose from. There’s the Araw-Araw ay Pasko Staycation package, which allows one to book a Deluxe Room for a rate that starts at P4,000 and includes a buffet breakfast for two at Latitude, the all-day dining restaurant of the hotel, and a complimentary use of the hotel’s pool and fitness center, among other things, from Dec. 1 to 30.

The aforementioned Latitude will be offering holiday feast with an array of fresh seafood, succulent carveries and decadent desserts. The special buffet will include, in addition to many international dishes, seasonal favorites like the glazed ham, lechon on the carving station, classic Yule Log cakes, and gingerbread cookies.

AG New World Manila Bay Hotel

This season of merriment, AG New World Manila Bay Hotel is offering a nice Christmas room package priced at P4,888 for an overnight stay in a Superior Room, and that price is inclusive of a buffet breakfast for two at Market Café, discounts on restaurant and spa services and other exclusive benefits. This offer is available starting on Dec. 1, 2018 and until Jan. 15, 2019 (except Dec. 30 and 31, 2018).

Consider treating yourself and your family to a three-course Christmas set menu — which includes roast pumpkin soup nutmeg foam and red velvet fondant — at The Fireplace. Rates start at P3,200 per person. Remember that this offer is only available on Dec. 24 and 25.

Century Park Hotel

One of the finest hotels in Manila, Century Park Hotel wants to be your partner in completing your Christmas shopping list — a task that can be surprisingly difficult.

The hotel’s Christmas offers, deli snacks, and pastry outlet can make holiday shopping for loved ones a breeze. A Century Park Hotel hamper starts at P2,700. Another good news is that it can be customized according to your preferences.

Those with working budget can alternatively choose from a wide range of breads, cold cuts, sausages and other available options.

Merry and yummy meals

While the Christmas season abounds with gifts, it is also outpouring with feasts awaiting to reach our palettes and satisfy our hungers. An occasion as grand as Christmas merits a well-prepared Noche Buena consisting of delicious meals.

Warm start

Soups are a good way to warm up one’s appetite for Christmas dinner. There are many variants to choose from. BBC Good Food, in a recent post online, suggests between a creamy celeriac, hazelnut, and truffle soup, or a crisp chestnut, bacon and parsnip soup. Woman’s Day magazine, in its 50 Christmas dinner ideas posted on its Web site, suggests cinnamon-spiced sweet potato soup with maple croutons.

Macaroni salad, meanwhile, remains a standard meal every Noche Buena. Philippine food Web site Yummy.ph, in its post about Noche Buena menus, suggests that “instead of mayonnaise, try using cream cheese to make your macaroni salad extra flavorful and indulgent.” Potato salad is also another popular dish. If you want to put a crunchy twist to the otherwise mushy meal, it is advised to add crushed nachos to a mixture of cheese spread, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, salsa, sweet corn, and black beans.

Grand feast

The appetite is just in time to delight in the main dishes after being warmed-up by starters.

For a meaty meal, you could opt between a Southern-style fried chicken, or a Pinoy-style buttery fried chicken. You could also choose between a sumptuous kare-kare made of ground peanut paste and paired with lots of greens; or a tender lengua that has a sauce made up of oyster, shiitake and button mushrooms mixed with sage, cream, and chicken stock. You could also make a twist to lechon kawali with a Lechon Macau recipe, where a crispy pork belly is rubbed with a mix of salt, Chinese five-spice powder, and sugar, then dried before it’s roasted.

The Christmas ham, as the centerpiece of the Christmas meal, definitely cannot be overlooked. While you could prefer the usual hamon, why not make it a little bit different? You could try glazing the ham with a home-made honey-rosemary glaze — a mixture of honey, dijon mustard, and dried rosemary. Or make it much tangier with making a compote from canned pineapple and apricot jam.

Food Network, in a list of “The Best Christmas Recipes” published on its Web site, also recommends several twists. While a ham coated with pineapple rings and cherries remains one of the classics, there is also a version where flaky pastry covers the salty ham, then topped with sweet pineapple sauce. There is also the “Millionaire’s Ham,” where the ham is spiced and candied by a mix of sugar, orange juice, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Any of these could be complemented with side dishes like glazed brussels sprouts and potatoes or roasted celery root and carrots.

You could also prefer for a rib roast coupled by a mustard horseradish sauce. Another recipe has the prime rib stuffed with whole cloves of garlic and complemented with a thyme and red wine sauce.

Furthermore, pastas are a staple in a Christmas meal. Upgrading your pasta dish could add flair to your array of meals in the dining table. Yummy.ph pitches an impressive combination of spaghetti and meatball, where queso de bola could be used in place of Parmesan cheese. Chicken and pasta could also go well in laying out a tasty chicken bolognese lasagna.

Sweet treats

Of course, the Noche Buena will not be complete without some sweet treats to complete one’s Yuletide meal delight.

There’s the regular crema de fruta, a stack of “soft sponge cake, creamy vanilla custard, and fruit cocktail that is set in gelatin”. Broas or ladyfingers could replace the cake layer.

While a creamy yet healthful fruit salad fits in the menu, it would be nice to take the dessert to a different level by making a fruit salad refrigerator cake. Imagine the components of the much-loved dessert stirred into a gulaman mixture and stacked into a chilled cream layer that is then topped by eggnog cookies.

If you’re still looking for a high-end twist, why not consider tablea — an essential for a hot drink for a cold season — and create a delicious torte out of it? From circular pieces of cacao, a stack of mousse, meringue, and ganache can be formed.

The Christmas feast does not run out of options for menus on which families and friends will celebrate the 25th of December and even the first day of next year. With a lot of recipes to learn and try, the Christmas we’ll celebrate on our tables will be more worth savoring. — Adrian Paul B. Conoza

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