The Hague, 20 December 2021 – The first-ever Filipino cookbook in the Dutch language is now available, courtesy of a Dutch couple who lived and worked in the Philippines.
During a visit to the Embassy, the couple Remco and Ellie Pijper said that “we miss typical Filipino dishes. It is unfortunate that these wonderful dishes are not available for our Dutch people. That is the reason why we wrote Masarap!”
The product of their yearning is “Masarap! Het Filipijnse Kookboek Met Een Verhaal (Delicious! The Filipino Cookbook with a Story),” a copy of which they presented to Rena Cristina Malaya, M.D., wife of Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya.
Dr. Malaya thanked the Pijpers for “providing another cultural connection between Filipinos and the Dutch people. Your cookbook is an ideal Christmas gift to friends.”
The Pijpers lived in Calapan in Mindoro province for seven years where they operate a study center for elementary and high school students under their Stichting Sparrow (Sparrow Christian Foundation). Among their favorite Filipino food are bulalo (beef shank soup), beef caldereta (beef stew), and pancit canton (stir-fried noodles).
The Sparrow Foundation aims to help address poverty through education programs, such as scholarships, the provision of a study house and other guidance projects. It also offers medical assistance, outreach medical consultations and emergency aids in the event of floods and typhoons.
Remco Pijper said, “We believe that every child has a right to education. And while in the Philippines there is good public schooling provided, some people still have a social distance. As Sparrow Foundation, we give tailor-made study guidance with a team of Filipino teachers and social workers to help children with poor and rough backgrounds get a college degree. We hope that by selling this book, we can raise the funds for our second study house in Mindoro.”
The Pijpers, who are back in Groningen, regularly visit Mindoro and plan to build a second study house.
“Masarap!” cookbook features recipes of traditional Filipino dishes, notably bulalo, chicken tinola (chicken stew/soup), embutido (Filipino meatloaf), sinigang na baboy (pork stew), kare-kare (oxtail and tripe stew), and Bicol express (spicy Filipino stew).
The recipes were shared by local families who have been beneficiaries of the Foundation’s work. “They told us the recipes, they cooked it as an example and they told us their stories,” Ellie Pijper added. “We hope that with this cookbook we can put a smile on many faces, and connect with the Filipino people and the wonderful Philippine culture.”
Those who wish to buy copies of “Masarap!” cookbook may fill-out the order form through the link https://stichtingsparrow.nl/kookboek/. Copies will also be available in leading bookstores in The Netherlands. Information about Stichting Sparrow is available at Facebook www.facebook.com/sparrowfoundation/. END
