Pokwang debuts cookbook with a twist

Comedienne Pokwang has launched her own cookbook which she said contains less expensive and easy-to-prepare delicious recipes.

"Yang cookbook na 'yan, hindi lang po kayo matuturuan magluto n'yan ng madadali at murang recipe kundi papatawanin ka pa," said Pokwang during an interview on "Tonight With Boy Abunda" on ABS-CBN recently.

"Ma-re-relate ka minsan. Di ba minsan kapag napu-frustrate tayo or broken hearted tayo, 'hmmm makapaguto na nga lang para mawala sa isip mo yung mga sama ng loob,' " she added.

The cookbook is called "Patikim, Pokie! A Hugot Cookbook and More…Ganern!”

At the late-night show, Pokwang, who is Marietta Subong in real life, recalled how she started to cook when she was a child.

"Kasi nga lumaki ako ng walang pagkain sa bahay. Si mother at si tatay ko, kapag ganyan, lagi akong nakatingin sa kanila sa kusina;"

"So minsan, walang naiiwan sa bahay. Wala si nanay at si tatay. Kung sino nakakatanda, sya magluluto, i-charge ka;"

"So kami, mga 8 years old pa lang, marurunong na kaming magsaing, magsibak ng kahoy, mag-ligpit ng pinag-higaan namin," Pokwang added.

Asked about the dishes she had a hard time cooking, Pokwang said: "Yung callos dati pero pinag-arralan ko sya. Pero OK na. Meron pang isa yung paella. Nahirapan ako dyan, Pang mayaman kasi. Okay na at pinagtyagaan ko sya."

Pokwang, 46, also describes some of the recipes as potion or gayuma.

"Isang araw, nagka trangkaso si Papang (Lee O' Brian). Gumawa ako ng salabat na may pandan. Since hindi sya makakain, sinamahan ko yun ng kamote. Nung malambot na malambot na yung kamote, nakakakain na sya. Sabi nya 'thank you for caring for me.' So lalo s'yang na in love sa akin nyan," she said.

Pokwang also said that she is the jealous type between her and O' Brian. "Selosa ako. Yung pagtatalo naman namin tumatagal lang ng 10 seconds kasi nahihirapan akong mag-explain. Minsan 'yung social media, tapos kakain na, ayoko ng ganyan eh. Pag nasa bahay ako, walaag trabaho, bonding natin ito."

She also said that she does not want her daughter May to enter show business.

"Ayoko Tito Boy. Gusto ko muna s'yang mag-aral ng mabuti although swerte naman talaga ako sa anak ko at ang sipag mag-aral,"  said Pokwang, whose daughter is studying culinary arts in New York.

She also said that she is into boxing and pole dancing these days. "Sa bahay lang ako. Bumili nga ako ng sarili kong pole. Kung nasa taas na ako nasa akin na ang decsion kung kelan ako bababa. Nung bata ako, sumali ako sa palosebo tapos may mga salubsuob ka pa."

But the actress turned emotional when she talked about her mother.

"Ok na si mama. Nakakapagsalita na rin s'ya ng unti-unti. Kasi pinapa acupuncture namin. May isa akong niluto sa 'Magandang Buhay' na na-mi miss ko kasi yun ang niluluto nya sa amin ng madalas. E ngayon hindi na sya pwedeng makapag-luto e di wala na."

Pokwang also said that she and comedian Pooh will have a show called "Coco X Funtasitca 2017 Tour" in Canada on April 7. - Robert Requintina/TEMPO