Sweet Tradition

I’ve always equated “Tablea: with Bicol.

When we’d spend summer in Bicol, particularly Mom’s hometown of Malinao, sweets were always part of the experience. These include making Nilupak in the small kubo in the garden, the de limon we’d buy in the store, and the tables that they would make at home.

There would be days that the strong smell of cocoa would waft from the dining room. When we’d get there, a number of people - Lee by my Lolo Doring - would be gathered around the dining table, busily making these chocolate balls. They would be lined-up on the table for drying, before they’d pack them in plastic bags.

That same tradition is still very much alive in Bicol today. It may no longer be my Lolo Doring who’s making it, but the tradition is still very much around.

Sweet!