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Cooking, gardening, and even snorkeling is how this father spent ECQ with his son

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ANCX

<p>Robert Francisco and his family found themselves quarantined in Anilao, Batangas when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was announced in March. What was meant to be a one-week vacation has now stretched to beyond three months. But the family has used that time to commune with nature while also sharing moments in the kitchen, especially with seven-year-old son Santiago.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/culture/2020/42/1robert.jpg"/><figcaption>Francisco with son Santiago and wife Christine enjoying their cookies baked together.</figcaption></figure></div><p>“Our kitchen here in our second home is an open kitchen where my son can see us preparing food and at times, can participate. He can smell (the food) and learn from the smells and at times it’s interesting to him to taste. So I guess it was a blessing to have an open kitchen that his senses are also stimulated,” relates Francisco, who would normally be either teaching at the UCC Coffee Academy or serving as Technical Advisor for the Philippine Coffee Board.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/culture/2020/42/2robert.jpg"/><figcaption>Robert Francisco at his day job teaching at the UCC Coffee Academy.</figcaption></figure></div><p>According to Francisco, Santiago has always been an able assistant to his dad, even before the ECQ. “It was not new to him to help me bake or help me in general. He pretends to be me even at my work. So at times he would help and present (my classes on) Brew Coffee, Roast Coffee, etc.” In Anilao, Francisco has been entertaining Santiago with a multitude of activities, from gardening, crafts, to family sports like trekking and snorkeling.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/culture/2020/42/3robert.jpg"/><figcaption>Quarantine spent at the beach in Anilao, Batangas.</figcaption></figure></div><p>With more time in the kitchen, Francisco started referring back to his old classes at the Culinary Institute of America to help him bake together with Santiago. Thankfully, Santiago had a bit of baking experience already. “Santiago recalls baking cinnamon sticky buns and gingersnap cookies in 2015 and 2016 for the café and for his classmates.” So it wasn’t hard to try baking together in the kitchen. “Making ginger cookies and molding them was fun because it got his imagination going. He molded logs and his initials rather than just round cookies.” </p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" frameBorder="0" height="707" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fxtinemd%2Fvideos%2F10158552044209433%2F&amp;show_text=1&amp;width=382" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="382"></iframe></div><p>Francisco has been reveling in their time together. “Baking with Santi is fun because we don’t have to force him. He volunteers to mix the flour, scoop the dough. He enjoys it and even if it does make it messy at times, we take it with a grain of salt as it educates him and stimulates his imagination.”</p><p>Baking was a tad difficult though, as Francisco’s culinary notes were all in Manila, and all their recipes became an experiment in recalling the measurements. But these times were not something Francisco would trade for anything. “I know we parents are busy and often need space. Being a father of a seven-year-old is no easy task. Santiago is an energizer bunny.” </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/culture/2020/42/image0.jpg"/><figcaption>Father and son bond over baking.</figcaption></figure></div><p>“I always say to myself what would Santi have learned or experience if I stopped him. So I let him dance and shower in the rain, jump in muddy puddles, slide on muddy slopes. Things like these may be small or trivial but to a child, it’s new and exciting and fun. What would I regret not doing with Santi, 10 years from now? So Santi enjoys holding worms, playing with beetles, giant grasshoppers, mole crabs, butterflies. He is amazed watching wild lizards (geckos), frogs, birdwatching, and many others.”</p><h3>You may also like:</h3><ul>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/06/11/20/help-local-businesses-and-get-50-percent-off-on-special-vouchers">Help local businesses and get 50 percent off on special vouchers</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/06/11/20/to-raise-a-million-pesos-to-feed-the-hungry-this-top-executive-is-ready-to-shave-his-head">To raise a million pesos to feed the hungry, this top executive is ready to shave his head</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/06/09/20/on-your-next-visit-to-vikings-no-more-buffets-but-you-can-still-eat-all-you-can">On your next visit to Vikings, no more buffets but you can still eat all you can</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/06/06/20/heres-what-to-expect-in-your-next-visit-to-jollibee">We can all dine inside Jollibee again soon—but this is how it’s gonna look like</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/restaurants/06/16/20/in-photos-heres-what-some-of-your-favorite-restos-look-like-now-that-theyre-open-for-dine-in">IN PHOTOS: Here’s what some of your favorite restos look like now that they’re open for dine-in</a></li></ul><p>Francisco advises, “Children should enjoy their childhood. Especially now with COVID-19, a child’s world will change and they can’t really enjoy with other children because of the fear of catching the virus, (they) can’t play in parks. I can’t tell other dads what to do, but this is what I think and what I do with Santi and I’m happy to share.”</p>

<p>Noted coffee expert Robert Francisco found himself stranded in Anilao with his family and made the most of the exile by bonding with his son outdoors and in the kitchen. By MARILEN FONTANILLA</p><p> </p>

Noted coffee expert Robert Francisco found himself stranded in Anilao with his family and made the most of the exile by bonding with his son outdoors and in the kitchen. By MARILEN FONTANILLA