Field Sketches — No. 001

Book of Happy

Illustrated notes from a mano × Manam’s Crispy Sisig Pizza collaboration.

Markers and watercolor, made while eating

A hand-drawn illustration of a sliced Crispy Sisig Pizza in marker, on a yellow page.

These days I gravitate toward nonfiction and children’s books. Especially because in the Age of AI, I just want to help preserve the preciousness of being human.

So welcome to… my little “Book of Happy.”

A handwritten starburst-bordered page listing the ingredients of Manam's House Crispy Sisig and a mano's guanciale strips.

Featuring a mano × Manam’s Crispy Sisig Pizza!!

I want my students to experience food as more than something you eat… but something you see, smell, touch, remember.

Something that makes them taste the world, be proud of your culture, and enjoy your heritage through just one bite.

A page reading 'ciao paboritos' in green marker on a red background with yellow dots.

The funniest thing about being a high school lit teacher once upon a time? If my students hated reading novels… helllllo, same — what more me?!? But the older I got, the more I understood why we needed stories.

A hand-drawn red chili pepper and a jar pouring orange chili oil, with the caption 'and a mano's Chili oil!!!'

And when I do draw food, I’m less interested in making it look exact. I care more about the colors — because that’s how I remember how it felt.

And also, the writer in me will start short-circuiting because I can’t draw and write and eat and enjoy all at the same time. Something’s gotta give. So, sorry, no food review — just pure happiness from the colors, so clearly you know masarap naman kinain ko.

A watercolor lemon labeled 'amano manam' beside a lime slice labeled 'Lemon Zest, served with a side of, reminiscent of calamansi.'

I do write about food, but I’d honestly rather draw it. Many times I will have finished savoring the dish before I remember to take a photo. Regardless, my photos never do them justice.

That’s what food photographers and stylists are for. Paging Nikko Pascua and Chiqui Lloren — you phenomenal people.

A page reading 'Ube Sago with housemade waffle bowl!' and 'Burrata de waffle' in pink and blue marker over a wave pattern. — Ube Sago with a housemade waffle bowl. Burrata de waffle.

A watercolor illustration of purple ube soft serve in a waffle basket, beside a small drawing of a smiling girl, on an orange background.

Made these while eating, so I guess this is my version of a live Google review — via markers and watercolor.

Even asked one of the diners what she thought when she had the soft serve. Asked her what color it felt like, and she said, “Orange! Because it felt happy!” I most definitely agree.

And we all lived happily ube after!!!

The End.