DELICIOUS Documentary Film Project Turns Hercules Seniors to Chefs

Dec. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- HERCULES, CALIFORNIA, December 8, 2011 - A group of seniors huddled together in front of the stove as a dish is being cooked by documentary filmmaker Jojo Soriano at the Hercules Senior Center. The project is called DELICIOUS, a community project created by Soriano. “DELICIOUS is a very simple community project, and it’s turning out to be a fun one for everybody involved. It’s not a project that will end world hunger or end poverty or fix our city’s financial woes,“ Soriano said, “but it’s becoming more and more alive!” The project calls for a senior Mom (or Dad) who wishes to share a recipe with their son (or daughter, or grandchildren.) The senior Mom picks a recipe that her son would pass down to his own grandchildren later on. Part 2 of the project is where the unexpected comes. The son then shares a story about his relationship with his Mom. A simple dish and a short story – catalyst for connecting people with each other. All this is documented on video.
Today, Soriano, demonstrated his Spicy Shrimp dish – a big hit at family gatherings and parties, and he cooked for the seniors to peak their interests and to invite them to participate in the DELICIOUS project.
“It’s a BIG HIT!” says Janine Shaheed, the city of Hercules Senior Center coordinator as she conference- called her boss Pedro Jimenez to announce the overwhelming positive reception of the seniors. “The seniors got really into it asking questions about the recipe and expressing interest in the project. They loved the aroma and ate the entire dish – and this was done after they’d already eaten their lunch! Shaheed reported.
Bonnie Spilatro, a volunteer at the center said, “You see, the TABLE is -  the meeting place, a place to open up and express ourselves.”
“Food and music are the two spiritual languages that we all understand.. They nourish our hearts and spirits – they connect us to each other,” said Anita Tabagon of Hercules, a DELICIOUS participant with her Mom Mary sharing Korean recipes.
“Kids can do this at home with their grandma! Soriano stated, “If you can videoshoot with your iPhone, you can capture your grandma or Mom cooking your favorite comfort-food recipe and record your story about her!”
“My folks have passed on, but I want to share my Mom’s recipe,” Paul Morris, former Mayor of the City of San Pablo, who signed up for the DELICIOUS project.
“My father, Saturnino Respicio, had just passed away, He was a member of the Beta Epsilon fraternity at University of the Philippines, Diliman, and they would call each other ‘Brods.’  Besides special family occasions, he would cook a few slabs of the "Camiling Chicharon" pork bellies and bring them to Beta Epsilon reunions and social events.” Dr. Gabe Respicio of Hercules shared. “My mother would like to share my father’s recipe sometime,” Respicio added.
“My Lola (grandmother) Guring was a busy caterer in the Philippines when she was alive,” Soriano shared with the Seniors. “Everybody would always go to her house, and she would often have big pots and pans of delicious authentic Filipino cuisine – her sauces were amazing! She passed away, and we have no records of her recipes." Today, Soriano has documented two recipes of his Mom with his sister Lisa.
The DELICIOUS Project has given the seniors another way to contribute to their communities, and the stories told give the younger generation a way to express their gratitude to those who have fed them and nourished them with their cooking, labor of love.
DELICIOUS Project is looking for other volunteer videographers to videoshoot recipes and stories in their own cities.
The DELICIOUS project is going to be published online when all recipes and stories have been archived for the community to enjoy!

About Jojo Soriano, Producer
The DELICIOUS Project is part of Jojo Soriano’s SELP (Self-Exprression and Leadership Program) course offered by Landmark Education.

For more information, contact:
Jojo Soriano, DELICIOUS Project Producer
Direct – (510) 245-8500
Email – jojos100@comcast.net

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