When President Noynoy visited Casa Roces

Busy Casa Roces

President Benigno Aquino just strode down from his office and walked briskly away from Malacanang. It was a bright and sunny Tuesday morning. Along with him are two of his most trusted Cabinet members, his Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa and Budget secretary Butch Abad. No one knows exactly where the President wants to go. They just tagged along as the Most Powerful Man of the Philippines just suddenly had the desire to eat.


Maybe the bachelor president smelled the aroma of Chef Menoy's dishes, the creative force behind Casa Roces, the newest restaurant right smack infront of the country's seat of power. 


It was unheard of, the President walking unescorted outside the palace grounds. During the time of Mrs. Arroyo, the President had to book her appointments in advance. There was tight security. The Presidential Security Group (PSG) had to literally sweep every place where Arroyo goes to. 

Now, for the first time in nine years, we see a President walking past his guards and slipping into the nice and comfortable house turned restaurant of iconic newspaper man and democracy icon, Chino Roces. 


Casa Roces, the newest restaurant infront of Malacanang has history written all over it. The place bore the bruises and memories of a distant past where politicians of note visited this noted house of the Roceses. Alejandro Roces use this house to welcome his guests. 


In the past, this house use to welcome only the richest, the wealthiest and the most powerful in Philippine society and politics.

Receiving room for guests

This ancient bahay na bato is one of the original settlers in this wide expanse of land fronting the Pasig river. The house is located along JP Laurel Avenue inside Malacanang compound. It is infront of the former San Miguel beer factory compound, now the (in)famous Burloloy building (now housing the Presidential Communications Group).


The Roces family is one of the most respected and the most famous families in Philippine history. In my generation, I only remember Don Chino Roces, the penultimate paperman who fought the Marcos regime. Imagine the shock that I had that this frail man who fought Macoy just lives a few blocks away from the strongman's official abode. 

Look who sat in this chair?

If you visit Casa Roces, you'll find various memorabilia of an era where gentlemen dined and wined and debate for many nights only to find themselves crossing swords in Congress days later. In Chino Roces' time, politics is a gentleman's game. 


Now, Casa Roces is for everybody who loves conversations, over great food and inspiring ambiance. Foes and friends alike must have probably met with Chino in one of the nooks in this place. 


I saw this chair and saw who's that fine lady in one of the pictures and it's the First Lady, Imelda Marcos. She probably had a shock of her life when she learned that one of the Roces family members struggled against her husband. 


The entire place speaks of history, of generations past where Filipinos still think that they are the greatest race ever in Asia. 


By the way, don't be surprised if Casa Roces serves great and excellent dishes. Cravings, the country's most loved and trusted brand in food services, is the one managing Casa Roces' kitchen. 

The Roces family talked with Ms. Marinella Guerrero-Trinidad on how to collaborate and turn Casa Roces into a much-talked restaurant it is now. After a few months of brain storming and a little remodelling, the family opened itself up to the public.


Minimal changes have been made in this house. Cravings and the family made sure that there were no major re-modelling or re-designs that were made. As much as possible, the family and Cravings wanted minimal changes. That house once housed the country's heroes and it is here where they once dreamt of how to help the country. It was in this house that they composed their opus, the house where they had the spark of inspiration to move against those who wanted nothing more than destroy Philippine democracy.


The original furniture that adorned this house were restored in their pristine condition. Photos and memorabilia of the Roces' contribution to Philippine democracy are everywhere. Even old cola glasses were made decors to remind everyone that even if this is now a restaurant, you are still in a place where great men once considered their private abode.

Kare-kare here is heavenly

What I loved about the place is its simple elegance. Pricey paintings animate the centuries-old walls of the house. Old books, mostly law books and some hard-bound ones, give the place the smell of old paper, not rotting but still very much alive. When you eat at Casa Roces, you'll not only enjoy eating great food, you are actually inside a capsule where history has been forged. 


Anyway, the president sat in one of the old chairs of this fine restaurant and ordered his favorite food. His cabinet members also ordered other specialties of Casa Roces: that rich thick peanut sauce poured all over a finely cooked beef, of sinigang that smells just heavenly and taste oh, so yummy and of other traditional Filipino dishes made special through the imagination and creativity of Cravings' Chef Menoy.


Before, a food taster was hired by Malacanang to sample the president's food even before any morsel touch the president's mouth. When Noynoy was inside the Casa, there was no food taster. Despite being the country's political royalty, Noynoy was not treated as an extra special celebrity, oh no. The President of the country was treated just like any who just wants to eat those dishes prepared by his mother or grandmother.


And they don't need a food taster. Cravings is quite known for serving dishes par excellence, and safe, and sanitary and extremely, healthy. 


When the president took a bite out of his order (beef, it's a secret what), his face lighted up. It was if all the worries of the world, all the burdens of the state, just suddenly vanished. And Noynoy had his nice time. 


(By the way, if you want to eat at Casa Roces, go to Malacanang. It is actually outside the official grounds of the palace. Just tell the sentries over at Gate one that you're eating at Casa Roces. They'll let you through. Now, if you're worried that prices here at Casa Roces would cost you an arm and a leg, no. Casa Roces prices are at least 5% lower than fine dining restaurants.So, what are you waiting for?)