What would ‘Sana' serve the President on his birthday?

DAVAO CITY — If President Duterte would celebrate his birthday in this hole-in-the-wall eatery which he frequents when he was still a fiscal at the City Prosecutor’s Office here, he would be enjoying his favorite beef tapa and beef bulalo for sure.

- ZEA C. CAPISTRANO

“Kung mag-birthday siya diri, special gyud ang tanan. Magprepare ko niyag bulalo na baka and then tapa nga baka, sinabaw isda. Mao may paborito para namo (If he would celebrate his birthday here, everything will be special. I will prepare beef bulalo, beef tapa, and fish stew),” said 80-year-old Porferia Sagoysoy Valles, owner of the famous Sana’s Original Bulalo.

“Karon nga Presidente siya dili gyud mahitabo kay gibawal man ang iyang paglakawlakaw nga sya ra (Now that he is President, that will not happen because he’s not allowed to go out on his own),” she said.

When Duterte was still a fiscal in the late 1980s, the now popular Sana’s Original Kabawan had no name yet. The small store is filled with photos of Valles and her numerous customers, including the President and his family.

The former mayor would even bring his friends and guests to Valles’ eatery.

Valles said she has hosted VIPs, local officials and even foreigners who saw or read her interviews on the internet.

How it got its name

Valles recalled that in one of Duterte’s visits, she asked him, “Sir, what are you going to eat? Tapa?” referring to the President’s favorite meat dish.