Tradition paves the way to a better tomorrow

Iloilo City’s top chef and culture advocate Rafael Jardeleza Jr. joins our exploration in celebrating the Manila Bulletin’s 125th anniversary of what makes life better, but he raises a question—is it?

I was born in the year 1959 and spent my teen years in the 1970s. It was a glorious past for our generation, the Golden Age. There was a vibrant cultural life at the time. and life was much simpler. Back then, we were considered as one of Asia’s powerhouses.

We often view the past with fondness due perhaps to nostalgia and core childhood memories. Our brains tend to focus on positive experiences while downplaying or forgetting negative ones, giving the illusion that the past was better.

We had the exact same number of hours in 1959 as we do in 2025.

We now live, however, in a time of convenience, innovation, creativity, where everything and anything is within reach. 

Is it better?  Here lies the conundrum: We had the exact same number of hours in 1959 as we do in 2025, but with all the new gadgets we have, we still struggle to finish our daily tasks today as we did in 1959. We are probably even more tired today. Why is this so?

In other words, “better” is subjective. It’s one’s personal experience that makes periods in time wonderful in all aspects.

Just like my advocacy of traditional cooking.  I appreciate and marvel at all these new gadgets and styles but my core memories of food is always associated with happy childhood moments cooking with my Lola Esca and Daddy Afric.  Thus, that period will always be better for me in one way or another.  This is one of the reasons why heritage food and traditional cooking will continue to be my advocacy.