#hansharyanto — Public Fediverse posts

EDITOR’S NOTE: COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION AMID TIMES OF DREAD

In April, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of The Walldog, a new local online outlet. This is a critical arts project, one that focuses on the creation of cultural memory and imagination for the future. 

“The Walldog reads public art, ghost signs, murals, textiles, protest aesthetics, and vernacular design as openings into potential histories and yet-to-be-imagined futures, […]

RESOLUTIONS OF SELF

There’s something about the opportunity—or at least the idea of an opportunity—for a new beginning. A chance to wipe our slates clean, forget whatever we think was holding us back—new year, new me. This is the year!  

Goal setting is its own subculture, rooted in corporate culture, but also as our universal way of evaluating progress. You cannot know if you have grown unless you know what you are striving for, what exactly it is you hope to grow into. And to know that you need to set goals for yourself. This is the bread and butter of self-help books, self-help gurus, life coaches, your boss, your running app, your book reading app.  

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The Akitu festival was celebrated during the first month of the Babylonian calendar, which coincides with March/April. While serving as a time for the population to gather and celebrate the beginning of the farming season, the festival was also a time to honor their gods and make vows to pay off debts or return borrowed farming equipment.  

Looking ahead through time, in ancient Rome, the Kalends of January—that is, Jan. 1—was dedicated to honouring the god Janus. People offered sacrifices, made wishes and renewed commitments to themselves and their fellow citizens. In the Middle Ages, the new year was designated as a time for knights to renew their commitments to the code of chivalry via what was called a “peacock’s vow”.  

Different populations within different time periods have used the beginning of their calendar year, usually centred around the harvest season, to renew whatever commitments made sense for them in the context of their time period.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be found here, in aligning our present-day practices of resolution setting with our own personal calendars and our own contextual pursuit for improvement.  

Perhaps we don’t necessarily need to be setting goals right at the beginning of a calendar year designated by a long dead Roman Emperor. 

I don’t necessarily have any qualms with the policy agenda of Julius Ceaser, nor do I think there is any harm in an arbitrary reminder that a full year has passed since the last one.  

That being said, there’s also comfort in knowing it is simply that: arbitrary. Maybe these next few weeks, or even months, are an extraordinarily busy time for you. Maybe you do have resolutions for yourself, but maybe you give yourself some time to breathe and stay afloat. Once spring begins to enter the picture, that’s when you focus on what you want to accomplish, little or big victories all held equal.  

Resolution setting in this world has separated from theological traditions and has been distilled into a personal habit, so why not align your personal calendar?  

The ultimate rule is that you can set things however you would like, big goals or small goals. Whatever works for you works for you.  

There is already a seemingly insurmountable pressure from the world and its many institutions to attribute everything to a measure of productivity. If I were to offer any serious advice, it would be to avoid doing the same to yourself.  

With all of that said, below are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions you can set for yourself: 

1. Write to your local MP  

2. Be kind to your body 

3. Wait until March/April to set your resolutions 

4. Learn about the history of where you reside, who lived there before you did 

5. Talk to your family (blood or chosen) 

6. Understand yourself 10 per cent more 

7. Volunteer at a local charity at least four times 

8. Reaffirm your commitment to the code of chivalry 

9. Return any borrowed farm tools 

10. Practice deep breathing 

#akitu #ancientRome #babylonians #HansHaryanto #juliusCeaser #kalendsOfJanurary #newYearsResolutions #romanEmperor

RESOLUTIONS OF SELF

There’s something about the opportunity—or at least the idea of an opportunity—for a new beginning. A chance to wipe our slates clean, forget whatever we think was holding us back—new year, new me. This is the year!  

Goal setting is its own subculture, rooted in corporate culture, but also as our universal way of evaluating progress. You cannot know if you have grown unless you know what you are striving for, what exactly it is you hope to grow into. And to know that you need to set goals for yourself. This is the bread and butter of self-help books, self-help gurus, life coaches, your boss, your running app, your book reading app.  

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The Akitu festival was celebrated during the first month of the Babylonian calendar, which coincides with March/April. While serving as a time for the population to gather and celebrate the beginning of the farming season, the festival was also a time to honor their gods and make vows to pay off debts or return borrowed farming equipment.  

Looking ahead through time, in ancient Rome, the Kalends of January—that is, Jan. 1—was dedicated to honouring the god Janus. People offered sacrifices, made wishes and renewed commitments to themselves and their fellow citizens. In the Middle Ages, the new year was designated as a time for knights to renew their commitments to the code of chivalry via what was called a “peacock’s vow”.  

Different populations within different time periods have used the beginning of their calendar year, usually centred around the harvest season, to renew whatever commitments made sense for them in the context of their time period.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be found here, in aligning our present-day practices of resolution setting with our own personal calendars and our own contextual pursuit for improvement.  

Perhaps we don’t necessarily need to be setting goals right at the beginning of a calendar year designated by a long dead Roman Emperor. 

I don’t necessarily have any qualms with the policy agenda of Julius Ceaser, nor do I think there is any harm in an arbitrary reminder that a full year has passed since the last one.  

That being said, there’s also comfort in knowing it is simply that: arbitrary. Maybe these next few weeks, or even months, are an extraordinarily busy time for you. Maybe you do have resolutions for yourself, but maybe you give yourself some time to breathe and stay afloat. Once spring begins to enter the picture, that’s when you focus on what you want to accomplish, little or big victories all held equal.  

Resolution setting in this world has separated from theological traditions and has been distilled into a personal habit, so why not align your personal calendar?  

The ultimate rule is that you can set things however you would like, big goals or small goals. Whatever works for you works for you.  

There is already a seemingly insurmountable pressure from the world and its many institutions to attribute everything to a measure of productivity. If I were to offer any serious advice, it would be to avoid doing the same to yourself.  

With all of that said, below are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions you can set for yourself: 

1. Write to your local MP  

2. Be kind to your body 

3. Wait until March/April to set your resolutions 

4. Learn about the history of where you reside, who lived there before you did 

5. Talk to your family (blood or chosen) 

6. Understand yourself 10 per cent more 

7. Volunteer at a local charity at least four times 

8. Reaffirm your commitment to the code of chivalry 

9. Return any borrowed farm tools 

10. Practice deep breathing 

#akitu #ancientRome #babylonians #HansHaryanto #juliusCeaser #kalendsOfJanurary #newYearsResolutions #romanEmperor

RESOLUTIONS OF SELF

There’s something about the opportunity—or at least the idea of an opportunity—for a new beginning. A chance to wipe our slates clean, forget whatever we think was holding us back—new year, new me. This is the year!  

Goal setting is its own subculture, rooted in corporate culture, but also as our universal way of evaluating progress. You cannot know if you have grown unless you know what you are striving for, what exactly it is you hope to grow into. And to know that you need to set goals for yourself. This is the bread and butter of self-help books, self-help gurus, life coaches, your boss, your running app, your book reading app.  

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The Akitu festival was celebrated during the first month of the Babylonian calendar, which coincides with March/April. While serving as a time for the population to gather and celebrate the beginning of the farming season, the festival was also a time to honor their gods and make vows to pay off debts or return borrowed farming equipment.  

Looking ahead through time, in ancient Rome, the Kalends of January—that is, Jan. 1—was dedicated to honouring the god Janus. People offered sacrifices, made wishes and renewed commitments to themselves and their fellow citizens. In the Middle Ages, the new year was designated as a time for knights to renew their commitments to the code of chivalry via what was called a “peacock’s vow”.  

Different populations within different time periods have used the beginning of their calendar year, usually centred around the harvest season, to renew whatever commitments made sense for them in the context of their time period.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be found here, in aligning our present-day practices of resolution setting with our own personal calendars and our own contextual pursuit for improvement.  

Perhaps we don’t necessarily need to be setting goals right at the beginning of a calendar year designated by a long dead Roman Emperor. 

I don’t necessarily have any qualms with the policy agenda of Julius Ceaser, nor do I think there is any harm in an arbitrary reminder that a full year has passed since the last one.  

That being said, there’s also comfort in knowing it is simply that: arbitrary. Maybe these next few weeks, or even months, are an extraordinarily busy time for you. Maybe you do have resolutions for yourself, but maybe you give yourself some time to breathe and stay afloat. Once spring begins to enter the picture, that’s when you focus on what you want to accomplish, little or big victories all held equal.  

Resolution setting in this world has separated from theological traditions and has been distilled into a personal habit, so why not align your personal calendar?  

The ultimate rule is that you can set things however you would like, big goals or small goals. Whatever works for you works for you.  

There is already a seemingly insurmountable pressure from the world and its many institutions to attribute everything to a measure of productivity. If I were to offer any serious advice, it would be to avoid doing the same to yourself.  

With all of that said, below are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions you can set for yourself: 

1. Write to your local MP  

2. Be kind to your body 

3. Wait until March/April to set your resolutions 

4. Learn about the history of where you reside, who lived there before you did 

5. Talk to your family (blood or chosen) 

6. Understand yourself 10 per cent more 

7. Volunteer at a local charity at least four times 

8. Reaffirm your commitment to the code of chivalry 

9. Return any borrowed farm tools 

10. Practice deep breathing 

#akitu #ancientRome #babylonians #HansHaryanto #juliusCeaser #kalendsOfJanurary #newYearsResolutions #romanEmperor

RESOLUTIONS OF SELF

There’s something about the opportunity—or at least the idea of an opportunity—for a new beginning. A chance to wipe our slates clean, forget whatever we think was holding us back—new year, new me. This is the year!  

Goal setting is its own subculture, rooted in corporate culture, but also as our universal way of evaluating progress. You cannot know if you have grown unless you know what you are striving for, what exactly it is you hope to grow into. And to know that you need to set goals for yourself. This is the bread and butter of self-help books, self-help gurus, life coaches, your boss, your running app, your book reading app.  

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The Akitu festival was celebrated during the first month of the Babylonian calendar, which coincides with March/April. While serving as a time for the population to gather and celebrate the beginning of the farming season, the festival was also a time to honor their gods and make vows to pay off debts or return borrowed farming equipment.  

Looking ahead through time, in ancient Rome, the Kalends of January—that is, Jan. 1—was dedicated to honouring the god Janus. People offered sacrifices, made wishes and renewed commitments to themselves and their fellow citizens. In the Middle Ages, the new year was designated as a time for knights to renew their commitments to the code of chivalry via what was called a “peacock’s vow”.  

Different populations within different time periods have used the beginning of their calendar year, usually centred around the harvest season, to renew whatever commitments made sense for them in the context of their time period.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be found here, in aligning our present-day practices of resolution setting with our own personal calendars and our own contextual pursuit for improvement.  

Perhaps we don’t necessarily need to be setting goals right at the beginning of a calendar year designated by a long dead Roman Emperor. 

I don’t necessarily have any qualms with the policy agenda of Julius Ceaser, nor do I think there is any harm in an arbitrary reminder that a full year has passed since the last one.  

That being said, there’s also comfort in knowing it is simply that: arbitrary. Maybe these next few weeks, or even months, are an extraordinarily busy time for you. Maybe you do have resolutions for yourself, but maybe you give yourself some time to breathe and stay afloat. Once spring begins to enter the picture, that’s when you focus on what you want to accomplish, little or big victories all held equal.  

Resolution setting in this world has separated from theological traditions and has been distilled into a personal habit, so why not align your personal calendar?  

The ultimate rule is that you can set things however you would like, big goals or small goals. Whatever works for you works for you.  

There is already a seemingly insurmountable pressure from the world and its many institutions to attribute everything to a measure of productivity. If I were to offer any serious advice, it would be to avoid doing the same to yourself.  

With all of that said, below are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions you can set for yourself: 

1. Write to your local MP  

2. Be kind to your body 

3. Wait until March/April to set your resolutions 

4. Learn about the history of where you reside, who lived there before you did 

5. Talk to your family (blood or chosen) 

6. Understand yourself 10 per cent more 

7. Volunteer at a local charity at least four times 

8. Reaffirm your commitment to the code of chivalry 

9. Return any borrowed farm tools 

10. Practice deep breathing 

#akitu #ancientRome #babylonians #HansHaryanto #juliusCeaser #kalendsOfJanurary #newYearsResolutions #romanEmperor

RESOLUTIONS OF SELF

There’s something about the opportunity—or at least the idea of an opportunity—for a new beginning. A chance to wipe our slates clean, forget whatever we think was holding us back—new year, new me. This is the year!  

Goal setting is its own subculture, rooted in corporate culture, but also as our universal way of evaluating progress. You cannot know if you have grown unless you know what you are striving for, what exactly it is you hope to grow into. And to know that you need to set goals for yourself. This is the bread and butter of self-help books, self-help gurus, life coaches, your boss, your running app, your book reading app.  

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The Akitu festival was celebrated during the first month of the Babylonian calendar, which coincides with March/April. While serving as a time for the population to gather and celebrate the beginning of the farming season, the festival was also a time to honor their gods and make vows to pay off debts or return borrowed farming equipment.  

Looking ahead through time, in ancient Rome, the Kalends of January—that is, Jan. 1—was dedicated to honouring the god Janus. People offered sacrifices, made wishes and renewed commitments to themselves and their fellow citizens. In the Middle Ages, the new year was designated as a time for knights to renew their commitments to the code of chivalry via what was called a “peacock’s vow”.  

Different populations within different time periods have used the beginning of their calendar year, usually centred around the harvest season, to renew whatever commitments made sense for them in the context of their time period.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be found here, in aligning our present-day practices of resolution setting with our own personal calendars and our own contextual pursuit for improvement.  

Perhaps we don’t necessarily need to be setting goals right at the beginning of a calendar year designated by a long dead Roman Emperor. 

I don’t necessarily have any qualms with the policy agenda of Julius Ceaser, nor do I think there is any harm in an arbitrary reminder that a full year has passed since the last one.  

That being said, there’s also comfort in knowing it is simply that: arbitrary. Maybe these next few weeks, or even months, are an extraordinarily busy time for you. Maybe you do have resolutions for yourself, but maybe you give yourself some time to breathe and stay afloat. Once spring begins to enter the picture, that’s when you focus on what you want to accomplish, little or big victories all held equal.  

Resolution setting in this world has separated from theological traditions and has been distilled into a personal habit, so why not align your personal calendar?  

The ultimate rule is that you can set things however you would like, big goals or small goals. Whatever works for you works for you.  

There is already a seemingly insurmountable pressure from the world and its many institutions to attribute everything to a measure of productivity. If I were to offer any serious advice, it would be to avoid doing the same to yourself.  

With all of that said, below are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions you can set for yourself: 

1. Write to your local MP  

2. Be kind to your body 

3. Wait until March/April to set your resolutions 

4. Learn about the history of where you reside, who lived there before you did 

5. Talk to your family (blood or chosen) 

6. Understand yourself 10 per cent more 

7. Volunteer at a local charity at least four times 

8. Reaffirm your commitment to the code of chivalry 

9. Return any borrowed farm tools 

10. Practice deep breathing 

#akitu #ancientRome #babylonians #HansHaryanto #juliusCeaser #kalendsOfJanurary #newYearsResolutions #romanEmperor

LOLA LIZA FOODS: A TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

A single table, some stools, a shelf stocked with Filipino snacks, candies, chips; a tub of garlic chili oil sitting overtop a mini-fridge—these are the first impressions upon entering the front door of Lola Liza Foods, a Filipino street food spot on Victoria St. N. and Ahrens St. W.   

Sharing a corner with Kitchener-Waterloo staple Smile Tiger Coffee Roaster’s, Jillian and Jovin Repalda opened the store front  in August 2024.  

“I moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2019 as an international student—the first in my family,” Jillian said.    

My first time at Lola Liza, I was greeted by Jillian at the counter with a smile and a swift recommendation that I try the grilled pork belly with a side of pancit and steamed rice. She radioed my order over via walkie-talkie to Jovin who was manning the food truck as I took a stool right by the window  

“Back home, there’s street vendors everywhere—I wanted to bring that experience here. When I had the idea initially, I knew that it had to be affordable like the street foods in Manila. Simple foods and snacks for the community to have, nothing formal. Just come, eat and hang out. That’s why we call ourselves a tambayan,” he said.  

To my right, sat a little girl no older than five, focusing intently on her iPad game while casting occasional glances my way. A family of four sat behind us at the only table, chattering away loudly, occasionally calling on the child to have a bite of kwek-kwek.   

The Pork BBQ skewers are a favourite here, grilled and marinaded with a traditional sauce of soy sauce, calamansi and other flavours. The spring rolls—veggie or pork—with a serving of pancit noodles combine well for a delicious, easy meal to either take out or eat in.   

The storefront itself does not hold any cooking equipment or stovetops aside from a countertop food warmer—all the cooking is done in the food trailer sitting adjacent to the store.   

“It’s very expensive to open up a full restaurant, that’s why I had the initial idea to just get a food trailer. It was hard because we didn’t know where to find or buy one! There were lots of ads we looked through. Eventually we found a used trailer in London and picked it up,” Jillian said.  

The trailer now sits just outside the shop, becoming a familiar sight for anyone driving up and down Victoria S.   

Jillian and Jovin moved out of Scarborough and into Cambridge in 2021, both working full time—Jovin as a production team member and Jillian as an IT consultant. At the time they were only able to open the restaurant once a week, but as the demand and number of regulars increased, they are since able to open six days a week.  

“We found such a great community here, it’s very peaceful,” Jillian said.  

A regular entered shortly after I did, whom Jillian greeted happily, already reciting for him his order. Sounds of chewing, the little girl kicking her legs against the stool, the muffled crackle of Jovin over the walkie-talkie, it was a beautiful sight, and already I felt the atmosphere to be exactly as Jillian had described her hopes for what Lola Liza would be: casual, informal and nothing short of welcoming. 

#Cambridge #Canada #filipinoFood #Food #HansHaryanto #ipad #JillianRepalda #JovinRepalda #kwekKwek #lolaLiza #lolaLizaFoods #London #Philippines #scarborough #streetVendors

LOLA LIZA FOODS: A TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

A single table, some stools, a shelf stocked with Filipino snacks, candies, chips; a tub of garlic chili oil sitting overtop a mini-fridge—these are the first impressions upon entering the front door of Lola Liza Foods, a Filipino street food spot on Victoria St. N. and Ahrens St. W.   

Sharing a corner with Kitchener-Waterloo staple Smile Tiger Coffee Roaster’s, Jillian and Jovin Repalda opened the store front  in August 2024.  

“I moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2019 as an international student—the first in my family,” Jillian said.    

My first time at Lola Liza, I was greeted by Jillian at the counter with a smile and a swift recommendation that I try the grilled pork belly with a side of pancit and steamed rice. She radioed my order over via walkie-talkie to Jovin who was manning the food truck as I took a stool right by the window  

“Back home, there’s street vendors everywhere—I wanted to bring that experience here. When I had the idea initially, I knew that it had to be affordable like the street foods in Manila. Simple foods and snacks for the community to have, nothing formal. Just come, eat and hang out. That’s why we call ourselves a tambayan,” he said.  

To my right, sat a little girl no older than five, focusing intently on her iPad game while casting occasional glances my way. A family of four sat behind us at the only table, chattering away loudly, occasionally calling on the child to have a bite of kwek-kwek.   

The Pork BBQ skewers are a favourite here, grilled and marinaded with a traditional sauce of soy sauce, calamansi and other flavours. The spring rolls—veggie or pork—with a serving of pancit noodles combine well for a delicious, easy meal to either take out or eat in.   

The storefront itself does not hold any cooking equipment or stovetops aside from a countertop food warmer—all the cooking is done in the food trailer sitting adjacent to the store.   

“It’s very expensive to open up a full restaurant, that’s why I had the initial idea to just get a food trailer. It was hard because we didn’t know where to find or buy one! There were lots of ads we looked through. Eventually we found a used trailer in London and picked it up,” Jillian said.  

The trailer now sits just outside the shop, becoming a familiar sight for anyone driving up and down Victoria S.   

Jillian and Jovin moved out of Scarborough and into Cambridge in 2021, both working full time—Jovin as a production team member and Jillian as an IT consultant. At the time they were only able to open the restaurant once a week, but as the demand and number of regulars increased, they are since able to open six days a week.  

“We found such a great community here, it’s very peaceful,” Jillian said.  

A regular entered shortly after I did, whom Jillian greeted happily, already reciting for him his order. Sounds of chewing, the little girl kicking her legs against the stool, the muffled crackle of Jovin over the walkie-talkie, it was a beautiful sight, and already I felt the atmosphere to be exactly as Jillian had described her hopes for what Lola Liza would be: casual, informal and nothing short of welcoming. 

#Cambridge #Canada #filipinoFood #Food #HansHaryanto #ipad #JillianRepalda #JovinRepalda #kwekKwek #lolaLiza #lolaLizaFoods #London #Philippines #scarborough #streetVendors

LOLA LIZA FOODS: A TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

A single table, some stools, a shelf stocked with Filipino snacks, candies, chips; a tub of garlic chili oil sitting overtop a mini-fridge—these are the first impressions upon entering the front door of Lola Liza Foods, a Filipino street food spot on Victoria St. N. and Ahrens St. W.   

Sharing a corner with Kitchener-Waterloo staple Smile Tiger Coffee Roaster’s, Jillian and Jovin Repalda opened the store front  in August 2024.  

“I moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2019 as an international student—the first in my family,” Jillian said.    

My first time at Lola Liza, I was greeted by Jillian at the counter with a smile and a swift recommendation that I try the grilled pork belly with a side of pancit and steamed rice. She radioed my order over via walkie-talkie to Jovin who was manning the food truck as I took a stool right by the window  

“Back home, there’s street vendors everywhere—I wanted to bring that experience here. When I had the idea initially, I knew that it had to be affordable like the street foods in Manila. Simple foods and snacks for the community to have, nothing formal. Just come, eat and hang out. That’s why we call ourselves a tambayan,” he said.  

To my right, sat a little girl no older than five, focusing intently on her iPad game while casting occasional glances my way. A family of four sat behind us at the only table, chattering away loudly, occasionally calling on the child to have a bite of kwek-kwek.   

The Pork BBQ skewers are a favourite here, grilled and marinaded with a traditional sauce of soy sauce, calamansi and other flavours. The spring rolls—veggie or pork—with a serving of pancit noodles combine well for a delicious, easy meal to either take out or eat in.   

The storefront itself does not hold any cooking equipment or stovetops aside from a countertop food warmer—all the cooking is done in the food trailer sitting adjacent to the store.   

“It’s very expensive to open up a full restaurant, that’s why I had the initial idea to just get a food trailer. It was hard because we didn’t know where to find or buy one! There were lots of ads we looked through. Eventually we found a used trailer in London and picked it up,” Jillian said.  

The trailer now sits just outside the shop, becoming a familiar sight for anyone driving up and down Victoria S.   

Jillian and Jovin moved out of Scarborough and into Cambridge in 2021, both working full time—Jovin as a production team member and Jillian as an IT consultant. At the time they were only able to open the restaurant once a week, but as the demand and number of regulars increased, they are since able to open six days a week.  

“We found such a great community here, it’s very peaceful,” Jillian said.  

A regular entered shortly after I did, whom Jillian greeted happily, already reciting for him his order. Sounds of chewing, the little girl kicking her legs against the stool, the muffled crackle of Jovin over the walkie-talkie, it was a beautiful sight, and already I felt the atmosphere to be exactly as Jillian had described her hopes for what Lola Liza would be: casual, informal and nothing short of welcoming. 

#Cambridge #Canada #filipinoFood #Food #HansHaryanto #ipad #JillianRepalda #JovinRepalda #kwekKwek #lolaLiza #lolaLizaFoods #London #Philippines #scarborough #streetVendors

LOLA LIZA FOODS: A TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

A single table, some stools, a shelf stocked with Filipino snacks, candies, chips; a tub of garlic chili oil sitting overtop a mini-fridge—these are the first impressions upon entering the front door of Lola Liza Foods, a Filipino street food spot on Victoria St. N. and Ahrens St. W.   

Sharing a corner with Kitchener-Waterloo staple Smile Tiger Coffee Roaster’s, Jillian and Jovin Repalda opened the store front  in August 2024.  

“I moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2019 as an international student—the first in my family,” Jillian said.    

My first time at Lola Liza, I was greeted by Jillian at the counter with a smile and a swift recommendation that I try the grilled pork belly with a side of pancit and steamed rice. She radioed my order over via walkie-talkie to Jovin who was manning the food truck as I took a stool right by the window  

“Back home, there’s street vendors everywhere—I wanted to bring that experience here. When I had the idea initially, I knew that it had to be affordable like the street foods in Manila. Simple foods and snacks for the community to have, nothing formal. Just come, eat and hang out. That’s why we call ourselves a tambayan,” he said.  

To my right, sat a little girl no older than five, focusing intently on her iPad game while casting occasional glances my way. A family of four sat behind us at the only table, chattering away loudly, occasionally calling on the child to have a bite of kwek-kwek.   

The Pork BBQ skewers are a favourite here, grilled and marinaded with a traditional sauce of soy sauce, calamansi and other flavours. The spring rolls—veggie or pork—with a serving of pancit noodles combine well for a delicious, easy meal to either take out or eat in.   

The storefront itself does not hold any cooking equipment or stovetops aside from a countertop food warmer—all the cooking is done in the food trailer sitting adjacent to the store.   

“It’s very expensive to open up a full restaurant, that’s why I had the initial idea to just get a food trailer. It was hard because we didn’t know where to find or buy one! There were lots of ads we looked through. Eventually we found a used trailer in London and picked it up,” Jillian said.  

The trailer now sits just outside the shop, becoming a familiar sight for anyone driving up and down Victoria S.   

Jillian and Jovin moved out of Scarborough and into Cambridge in 2021, both working full time—Jovin as a production team member and Jillian as an IT consultant. At the time they were only able to open the restaurant once a week, but as the demand and number of regulars increased, they are since able to open six days a week.  

“We found such a great community here, it’s very peaceful,” Jillian said.  

A regular entered shortly after I did, whom Jillian greeted happily, already reciting for him his order. Sounds of chewing, the little girl kicking her legs against the stool, the muffled crackle of Jovin over the walkie-talkie, it was a beautiful sight, and already I felt the atmosphere to be exactly as Jillian had described her hopes for what Lola Liza would be: casual, informal and nothing short of welcoming. 

#Cambridge #Canada #filipinoFood #Food #HansHaryanto #ipad #JillianRepalda #JovinRepalda #kwekKwek #lolaLiza #lolaLizaFoods #London #Philippines #scarborough #streetVendors

LOLA LIZA FOODS: A TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

A single table, some stools, a shelf stocked with Filipino snacks, candies, chips; a tub of garlic chili oil sitting overtop a mini-fridge—these are the first impressions upon entering the front door of Lola Liza Foods, a Filipino street food spot on Victoria St. N. and Ahrens St. W.   

Sharing a corner with Kitchener-Waterloo staple Smile Tiger Coffee Roaster’s, Jillian and Jovin Repalda opened the store front  in August 2024.  

“I moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2019 as an international student—the first in my family,” Jillian said.    

My first time at Lola Liza, I was greeted by Jillian at the counter with a smile and a swift recommendation that I try the grilled pork belly with a side of pancit and steamed rice. She radioed my order over via walkie-talkie to Jovin who was manning the food truck as I took a stool right by the window  

“Back home, there’s street vendors everywhere—I wanted to bring that experience here. When I had the idea initially, I knew that it had to be affordable like the street foods in Manila. Simple foods and snacks for the community to have, nothing formal. Just come, eat and hang out. That’s why we call ourselves a tambayan,” he said.  

To my right, sat a little girl no older than five, focusing intently on her iPad game while casting occasional glances my way. A family of four sat behind us at the only table, chattering away loudly, occasionally calling on the child to have a bite of kwek-kwek.   

The Pork BBQ skewers are a favourite here, grilled and marinaded with a traditional sauce of soy sauce, calamansi and other flavours. The spring rolls—veggie or pork—with a serving of pancit noodles combine well for a delicious, easy meal to either take out or eat in.   

The storefront itself does not hold any cooking equipment or stovetops aside from a countertop food warmer—all the cooking is done in the food trailer sitting adjacent to the store.   

“It’s very expensive to open up a full restaurant, that’s why I had the initial idea to just get a food trailer. It was hard because we didn’t know where to find or buy one! There were lots of ads we looked through. Eventually we found a used trailer in London and picked it up,” Jillian said.  

The trailer now sits just outside the shop, becoming a familiar sight for anyone driving up and down Victoria S.   

Jillian and Jovin moved out of Scarborough and into Cambridge in 2021, both working full time—Jovin as a production team member and Jillian as an IT consultant. At the time they were only able to open the restaurant once a week, but as the demand and number of regulars increased, they are since able to open six days a week.  

“We found such a great community here, it’s very peaceful,” Jillian said.  

A regular entered shortly after I did, whom Jillian greeted happily, already reciting for him his order. Sounds of chewing, the little girl kicking her legs against the stool, the muffled crackle of Jovin over the walkie-talkie, it was a beautiful sight, and already I felt the atmosphere to be exactly as Jillian had described her hopes for what Lola Liza would be: casual, informal and nothing short of welcoming. 

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