Origin on a plate: Alden Richards tours the Pop Talk team through his hometown, Laguna

It was in Laguna that a simple boy was turned into a superstar.

Fresh from his trip to the United States, Alden Richards welcomed Tonipet Gaba and the rest of the Poptalk team at the iconic Rizal Shrine in Calamba.

It was almost lunchtime - the perfect time for a hungry food show host and a homegrown guest star to roam around Laguna and taste not just its cuisine but its culture as well.

Although Alden traces his roots to Sta. Rosa where he first joined pageants, Calamba quickly became one of his frequent destinations because rehearsals for Ginoong Laguna were held there.

But the whole province, Alden fondly recalls, was the springboard for his status in the showbiz industry today.

All Aboard The Luxe Bus

Alden was genuinely surprised when he saw where he would ride for the rest of the trip – a glorious, black bus befitting the name on its side.

The Luxe Bus is a 24-seater vehicle fitted with individual TV screens, furnished with seats with wider backrests, and fully-stocked with non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the ride. It is, truly, nothing short of luxurious.

But despite riding in style, flanked by cameramen and Poptalk’s host himself, Alden humbly directed the driver to stop along the highway in Calamba – this, he said, is still his favorite restaurant.


Lutong Pilipino ni Aling Ely

“Kapag dito ako kumakain, naaalala ko ‘yung humble beginnings ko,” Alden said as he and Tonipet ordered his favorite dishes.

When he first started joining pageants in Laguna in 2010, Alden often came to Aling Ely’s after rehearsals because it was affordable and it served his favorite pork binagoongan.

The pair ordered bicol express, binagoongan, pinakbet, and one of the house specialties: talong na may chicharon at bagoong.
 

 “It’s like deconstructed pinakbet,” Tonipet said of the house favorite.

Susan Bonifacio, owner of Aling Ely’s, said that they began as just a kubo that served lechon and chicharon – which, in 1993, nobody else was doing in Calamba. To this day, she said, those two remain their store’s top billers.

“Iyon ang gusto ko sa kanila,” Alden said “walang pinagbago. Kung ano sila noong [nagsisimula pa lang ako], ganoon pa rin sila ngayon. Same pa rin ‘yung lasa.”

For as low as P 155, anyone can enjoy a full and sumptuous meal at Aling Ely’s – and remember that four years ago, Alden Richards ate, hoped, and dreamed there.


Nila’s Original Puto Biñan

From Calamba, the team traveled to Biñan where Alden’s personal assistant and handler, Mama Ten, lives. Mama Ten took the Poptalk team to Nila’s Original Puto Biñan, the oldest, and arguably the most popular, putohan in Laguna.

“Ito ‘yung mga pinamimigay namin kapag Pasko,” Mama Ten shared “kasi hindi nakakahiyang ibigay ‘yung mga produkto nila.”

Alden couldn’t help but remember the times he and Mama Ten gave out boxes of Nila’s Puto when he was still starting out as a celebrity. The texture, he said, is what makes Nila’s stand out.

Since 1925, Nila’s had been making excellent and, as Tonipet put it, “hindi tinitipid na puto” for as low as P 90 per box. Each box is good for 4 to 5 people.

Aside from puto, they also make other rice cakes like sapin-sapin and kutsinta.

With every box of Nila’s Original Puto Biñan, you not only treat yourself to a delicious treat, you also partake in the long tradition of excellent rice cakes which ties every Biñan local, like Mama Ten, to their community.


Panciteria Maciang

Pancit with catsup, anyone?

Both Tonipet and Alden were surprised as they cooked the house specialty of a panciteria in San Pedro: pancit maciang, a seemingly regular pancit bihon but with balun-balunan, fried egg, and catsup.

The pancit was something new for Alden to try to cook and eat – which was apt as he and Mama Ten discussed the young actor’s future projects. “As an actor kasi dapat lahat tinatanggap mo hanggang kaya mo,” Alden said “walang pili-pili.”

Tonipet, Mama Ten, and Alden capped the night with a healthy discussion about home-cooked meals like the ones they had that day.

“This is why we have food shows,” Tonipet said “para hindi mawawala ‘yung mga lutong bahay na simple lang pero masarap.”

To which, Alden agreed rather proudly, and added that he is very much grounded in his roots in Laguna – “ito ‘yung isa sa mga bagay na meron sa aming mga taga-rito,” he said “hindi kami nakakalimot.”