By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
I was about to write more about the proposed Burnham parking building especially considering the new materials emailed to me but let me first dispose of one thing that had been pending in my “to-write-on” list. I am referring to the veggie restaurants around town.
It used to be that when you said you were a vegetarian, you were the butt of jokes. At least that was how it was when I started becoming one in the mid-70s in college. Now it is almost the reverse. The word “vegetarian” and “vegan” has now become very common.
The other month as we were eating at Health 101 in front of Benguet State University at La Trinidad, Benguet after a hearing at the Regional Trial Court, a friend who chanced upon us (I was with a client) said, “People are now following your path”, referring to my diet. The first thing that came to my mind was, “Well, people have no choice considering that we now hear very often of cancer patients and those going through dialysis who are known to us. These diseases appear now to be as common as flu in the past.”
As we munched our “brunch”—breakfast and lunch—the same friend observed that the restaurant was almost full when it was just 10:00 a.m. She continued, “Come here at lunchtime and you will have to endure a long queue before you get the chance to place your order.”
The restaurant is a part of a chain and the man behind it is Elmer Macalingay whose parents hail from Besao, Mtn. Prov. and Abra. Starting with Health 100 beside the Cathedral of the Resurrection at Magsaysay Ave. the restaurant is now a chain. Now there is a branch within the compound of said cathedral, the Eco-lodge which has a restaurant with generous parking spaces courtesy of the Cathedral. Before that, however, was the Gen. Luna St. branch, Health 102, near the University of Baguio. The latest branch of the chain which opened a few months ago is at the Baguio General Hospital which was, and still is, a hit. So much so that another branch will soon open at the vicinity of the old gate of Camp John Hay.
While these are half-half restaurants—they also have meat-based entries in their menus except at Health 101 which is purely vegetarian—it appears that most of its loyal clients are vegetarians or are health conscious.
To have six well-patronized restaurant branches in a few years is a phenomenal feat. If you want to be successful in such line of business visit any of its branches and you might see some lessons worth learning.
Then there is the Vegetarian Center but before we talk about this, its best to talk first about the strictest of these kinds of restos. I am referring to the Ahs-Wes restaurant at the Nevada Square, also just beside the old gate of Camp John Hay. There is usually enough parking areas in that place. The restaurant does not serve anything from animals. A lot of creativity was put into the entries in their menu and the results are very tasty entries without having to hurt or exploit animals. No milk, no cheese, no yoghurt, etc. Well, I have seen vegetarians who were voracious when it came to cheese, milk and yoghurt—justifying this by saying, “at least I did not cause the killing of an animal” (how Christian!)—and they ended up getting heart attacks.
So if you are really that meticulous about your health , the right place for you is Ahs-Wes. It was formerly the Azotea Greens at Session Road. There are no MSG or Magic Sarap or other chemicals that can make you get cancer and other health vagaries.
Now let us go back to the Vegetarian Center located at Abanao Square along Abanao St. which is just below City Hall. Just like Health 100 and its branches, you have to get there before lunch if you want to be assured of a seat.
There are also no bad chemicals in their food which they serve like a turo-turo (point point) but the owners eat milk, cheese and yoghurt. With moderation, it should be fine but if you are suffering from dreaded diseases, better abstain from these.
The restaurant after about a year or two just opened its first branch also at Gen. Luna St. at the vicinity of UB, and as I heard, another branch is in the planning stages.
So vegetarianism? It is not only good for health. It might also be a good business proposal.**
