KITCHEN BOYS

Hi there, friends! Today’s blog would be about my experience and duty as assistant cook for my beloved Municipality of Tabogon during the Cebu Provincial Sports Meet 2024. Together with me are Mr. @itsmateo, Ma’am @dehai, and Ma’am Jen. Starting Saturday evening, our service is called by duty. Without hesitation and love of public service, I gladly volunteer assisting the athletes (students) for with regards to their daily meals and snacks. As also to give them support.

As per the planning and assignment, I was supposed to be the chaperon for the Sepak Takraw Sport (boys category) but my direct Master Teacher is in need of assistance for the kitchen to cook and serve sfor the athletes. So, I rise to represent. Anyway, Sepak Takraw team already has their coach.

For approximately 4 hours of traveling, we finally made it to our destined school for accommodation -- the Catalina National High School here in the municipality of San Fernando. As we arrived to our presumed kitchen area or room, I was glad that there are also cooks and assistants from other schools here to aid the distribution and service of meals. We are about 8 teachers as cooks and 9 students as assistants.

My job here is all-around man. Fetch water, cook rice, wash dishes, carry things, load and unload bought supplies and bunch of other stuff. With @dehai (cook) and @itsmateo (assistant) together with Ma’am Jen (cook), Ma’am Marissa (head cook) and dong Aldrich (assistant), we daily buy groceries at Public Markets for the fruits and veges, meat, spices, seasoning and condiments, and other necessity for the cooking process. We also went to Super Metro for the supplies like soap, biscuits and other essentials. Depending to the availability, accessibility and demand for the quality service.

Every day, every 2 AM of dawn, I walk up to start my day. I pray first before getting up from bed. Then I fetch the 3 big pots to cook rice on. 3 large pots are required for the whole athletes, coaches, Head teachers and staff, just about 15 kilos of rice for every meal. Imagine such, sounds likely a fest every day haha! As the rice are being cooked and high heat is maintained, I just sit with my android while taking a sip on a glass of hot milk. Contented with my moment and satisfied with myself in the service. When alarm strikes at 5 AM, I take a bath and wash my wet clothes afterwards. Then I take my breakfast along with the other kitchen staff after the athletes have been served food.

When I’m full and done, I take a break. I sometimes sleep back again to restore my sleep. But usually, I read my bible and write my regular devotional (bible study). Then I open my chat box for updates and school information and reports. After my break, we go for shopping for groceries (as mentioned above). just right for the lunch when we came back.

Here’s the exciting part, everyday at the market, my eyes always wanting to look at the beautiful lady fish-vendor. Her pinkish cheeks and daring eyes capture my heart that very first day as we buy Barilis fish from her. She’s graceful as she serves us while weighs our fish. She smiles at me. I ask her, Pila ning pusit miss? (How much is a kilo of this squid?) She replied, 200.00 mego. A reply with a smile. Then we move on to the next table for pork meat. Leaving her my heart Haha! And Mat @itsmateo said, Nice ka Kim! And I replied, Nice ka Mat!

These are my duties and routines everyday for 5 days. Thank you for reading friends till here.