Food for the soul

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It’s the last day of 2023! We survived!

This 2023 was full of career highs for me as I took on a new role in public service and our volunteer-run Catholic website Dominus Est (DominusEst.PH) bagged the St. John Paul II Award at the Catholic Mass Media Awards. But it was also the year my mom, the eternally beautiful Carmelita Vargas Salcedo, was called home by the Lord; so it has also been the most painful year of my life.

I know I only got through 2023 by the Lord’s grace; so as we usher in 2024, I would highly recommend that your first meal be something that feeds your soul. For me, this is always holy Mass as I have absolutely fallen in love with the lyrics of the liturgy (e.g. “send down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall”). However, your menu need not necessarily be religious. For some, this can be something as simple as watching “GomBurZa,” reading a good book or listening to the latest album of the ageless Dolly Parton. The Holy Spirit finds ways to touch your heart; and art and music are always comfort food for the soul.

I am happy to share that I found a place in Angono with all these: art, music and comfort food!

Music Wizard Cafe

Music Wizard Cafe is a quaint little coffee shop just down the road from SM. It looks like a simple coffee shop when you enter, but it’s no ordinary cafe. An upright piano with portraits of National Artists Lucio San Pedro and Botong Francisco greets you as you enter, establishing the influences for this space: fine arts and music.

Pianist Joy Cruz, the mom of Aleeza Cruz who now runs the place, was founder of the Music Wizard, a music school focused on piano lessons for the community that ran for 20 years but sadly closed during the pandemic. However, the cafe, which started simply as a place where parents of students could hang out while waiting for their kids, has continued to thrive.

Its extension on the second floor of the building, which can fit around 20 pax (or double that, depending on how fun your party is), offers a full-on lunch menu and even accepts reservations for events. I was able to dine here and was surprised to find chopsuey—unique with its fried chicken on top—as well as sisig!

I would most recommend, though, the fried itik (duck). Think Peking Garden meets Max’s. It is so deeply flavorful! Caveat, though: this is not on the menu but by order only! This is because it is from Marlon’s Fried Itik, an Angono legend that uses a 44-year old recipe. It comes with a sauce made with pure honey but I just went for itik in all its glory, without the sauce!

Also try their milkshakes, whose recipes are by Aleeza herself, a UP speech communications major who is obsessed with creating the perfect milkshake. She guarantees that they do not use powdered milk and they do not scrimp on ingredients. I tried the KitKat milkshake and, indeed, with the bits of KitKat that you can actually feel on your tongue as you enjoy the shake, it is highly addictive and memorable!

There is more food for the soul on the third floor of the building, where you will find the Angkla Art Gallery. I was lucky to catch the exhibit entitled ‘Si Ponyang at ang Lihim ng Kuweba’ with the stirring, almost eerie painting of a girl facing a cave entrance by Sarah Geneblazo. To get to the painting that inspired the entire exhibit, you walk through a papier-mâché installation by Joy Cruz herself, who is not only a music teacher but apparently also an artist!

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Loyola Retreat House

Aside from art, Joy is now also occupied with managing the Loyola Retreat House (LRH), which is just a five-minute drive from Music Wizard.

The LRH is a Jesuit sanctuary that is open to anyone who would like to “get lost and be found.” I had the special privilege of being toured after Mass by Fr. Primitivo Viray Jr., SJ, the provincial superior of the Philippine Jesuits, who will begin his new role as president of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific tomorrow.

A center for spiritual formation and renewal, the LRH was actually built in 1964 and blessed by then Manila Archbishop, Cardinal Rufino Santos. In August 2022, with Fr. Viray as provincial superior, the revival began as Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, SJ, and Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ, worked on the LRH renovation. This coming 2024, it will celebrate its 60th anniversary!

As Jesuits do, the place rejuvenates your spirit not only through prayer but also through art and music. There is a main chapel, the Chapel of the Risen Lord, situated beside their Laudate Si Gardens, which has three gazebos where groups on retreat can converge. There is also a smaller chapel in the area that houses the rooms and a very elegant dining space.

But they also have a space devoted to art. It currently has a belen (nativity scene) exhibit with over 20 belens carved by Angono artists.

Joy will also revive the auditorium. I cannot wait for this to launch and to listen live to a liturgical concert, especially with music by Jesuit living legends like Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ.

You can book the Loyola Retreat House for a personal silent retreat, a personal guided retreat, a group retreat or recollection. This certainly will nourish your soul. (And their focaccia is also good!)

This 2024, let it be not only about finding your dreams but also about finding yourself. May you be blessed with purpose, inner peace and strength of spirit. Happy New Year! INQMusic Wizard Café. CPV Building Manila East Road cor. Col Guido Brgy San Roque, Angono, Rizal. Parking available. Wheelchair accessible. Pet-friendly. For reservations and inquiries, call 0945-3468579.

Loyola Retreat House. Carnation Street, Nieves Hills Subdivision, Brgy. San Isidro, Angono, Rizal. For inquiries, call 0997-4368961.