The Easter holiday, foodwise, has always been a hit with The Kid. We don’t have a big meal along the lines of a freshly slaughtered lamb or some Spring chickens or 
even a leg of ham. What is a constant, regardless of the meal that we have that day, are the sweets and the goodies that come with an Easter Egg Hunt and Easter baskets. I know, it’s certainly a Western tradition that we have adopted…it always seems a bit bizarre to partially sponsor a beach each hunt for Batangas kids or to see youngsters coursing through gardens like locusts…but since the kids love it…why not? While this year was the first that we didn’t play any April Fool’s tricks on each other (The Kid had no partners in crime sleeping over, and well, maybe she isn’t a Kid anymore…), we still colored eggs and Marketman still felt a strong compulsion to load up on treats. Thank goodness my sister sent all the bells and whistles from new York, foil covered bunnies and eggs, marshmallow chicks, etc. because for some reason, absolutely NO ONE in Manila seemed to get into the Easter groove of things…
There were no pastel Hershey’s kisses anywhere, and I even had to go to 3 different stores to find the sugar eggs and they only had one size and simple designs. 
What is going on? Nobody bothers to gussy up a little for Easter anymore? It’s bad enough 99% of the population wouldn’t even know what an Easter bonnet is, but no goodies??? Last Saturday I was so thrilled to find these terrific Easter themed sugar cookies decorated with icing at the small Classic Confections stall of Baba Ibazeta at the Salcedo market that I bought nearly everything she had… at PHP100 for 3 nice cookies, it was certainly easier that baking them up myself! Finding the sugar eggs that I recall from the time I must have been 10 years of age was a quest this year. I finally found them at Goldilock’s in the basement of Landmark Department Store after trying Rustan’s, Red Ribbon (where the saleslady looked at me like I was a Martian for asking for sugared eggs…I can only imagine what she was visualizing if she didn’t know immediately what I was seeking) and other places.
I mean, am I the only one that has fond memories of these bizarrely colored almost inedible eggy wonders? Do folks not appreciate the wonderful crack they make when you smash them against a hard surface? Does it not thrill you to find a few lousy Nips inside to stain your fingers and tongue? Geez, such killjoys. I also found some terrific looking swirly lollipops that are locally manufactured and very reasonably priced…they look colorful and bright, but they have to flavor. At any rate, throw in some “paper hay†that we always have in stock 
and it was beginning to look a lot like Easter from a sweets/goodies point of view… Every year I also wrap up over a dozen “easter baskets,†which now no longer have baskets, to give to kids we know. They don’t have to be very fancy, its more the thrill of getting the goodies that matters. And trust me, these kids remember the occasion and look forward to it each year. I realize as they get a little older the thrill will end, but why not feed the joy while it still has a positive effect? So little effort for so many smiles…and possibly, cavities…Next up, coloring the Easter eggs, of course!
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I know how that feels. I have been scouring around the malls looking for Easter treats myself. A few bakeries have the sugar egg but I was looking more for chocolates. I know in Chocolate Lovers, they selll egg shaped chocolates in pastel colored foils. My Easter Bunny plate is just not as colorful as it used to be.
SM used to sell some Peeps (I love the yellow chicks). I’m not sure though if they did this year.
Its definitely a challenge finding things for Easter baskets here. Last year for an Easter party I ordered Easter cookies and the sugar eggs from Marta Matute and Classic confections as well. They were a big hit! Bizu made dark, milk and white chocolate bunnies, that if not readily available, you can try to have ordered. They came out much cheaper than my alternative which was to buy from the Shangri-la Hotel. Can you imagine buying 50 bunnies for 50 baskets from the Shang? Yikes! That would have absolutely blown the budget! Another option would be to buy some Easter egg doughnuts from Krispy Kreme or Go Nuts, and place in a plastic bag and tie with a ribbon.
This year I was extremely happy to find soft Easter decorations in wonderful colors from a vendor in the American Women’s Bazaar. The lady had decorations in felt or some kind of fabric – eggs, bunnies, chicks and baskets in all colors and sizes. Although not edible, they will certainly add color and excitement to our baskets. Good thing I only have two to prepare this year!
Happy Easter to you ,Mrs. Marketman and The Kid!
MM, you should’ve checked out the SM dept store. the southmall branch i went to had rabbit shaped marshmallow lollipops and plastic eggs with candy, etc. :) i used to look forward to easter when i was a kid bec my church used to organize an egghunt every year. when i was 7, i had a bunch of eggs which i had my yaya carry for me while i looked for more eggs. one of the teachers in sunday school thought i couldn;t find any eggs and gave me the golden egg! which gave me a huge bag of jelly beans! :) my first taste of those jelly beans. yummy.
I got myself stuffs from Canada for Easter almost a month ago. It was a delight to see those eggs crack up when thrown at a hard surface, I almost got carried away and consumed all too early.
As a kid, I always looked forward to Easter since at the village clubhouse, there is Easter egg hunt with real bunnies roaming the gardens. At home all we did was to cracked chocolate centered eggs and the yayas usually had to stopped us as the marble flooring is spilled with chocolates. Fun times!
Wishing you and your loved ones, and your readers a very Happy Easter!!
Hi Mr. Marketman,
I saw your article and I would like to ask if you know how to cook Bacalao.
Thank you.
Bryan
I agree very few people seem to celebrate Easter here. It seems we are always focused on Christ’s passion and not His resurrection.I can”t find one decent Easter greeting card.No market for it I guess.Anyway more power!
celebrating easter in my family is very much like having a fiesta or christmas lunch. we don’t do egg hunts or the easter bunny. we do give out sweets and chocolates and eat loads of food. i think the western style of celebrating easter is not yet that wholely accepted as a christian tradition unlike santa claus is during christmas for filipinos. what is the significance of the rabbit for easter for the west and the eggs?? santa claus came from the story of st.nicholas that i know
From our family to yours…. and the rest of Market Manila readers….Happy Easter everybody! Peace and joy to you all!
Hi MM. Happy Easter to you and your family !
When we were growing up, my mother taught us siblings & our friends how to make sugar eggs which we would fill with M&Ms or Nips then decorate with icing. It was an annual Easter tradition for us. My little kids have a few more years before I can start passing on the tradition to them but I can’t wait!
Happe Easter to you and your family, Marketman!
bryan, sorry, I have not made bacalao from scratch… Happy Easter to all!!!
Happy Easter to you, Mrs. MM, and the Kid.
I saw the same Easter bits at SM Southmall. But I still prefer those good old sugar eggs. We had one each when we were kids and they had our names on them so no fighting. Same with the golden eggs my dad used to prepare. Everyone gets a prize but you had to look fo the one with your name, if you find one that isn’t yours, you had to keep quiet. It was fun watching my other siblings go bonkers trying to find theirs.
SM has a pretty good and assorted display of easter treats! quite reasonably priced too :)
Happy Easter MM! Yes, I remember the sugar eggs and the goodies inside. I knew it was just hardened colored sugar and can only eat a part of it. I organized an easter egg hunt once in my home when I was 11 or 12. I colored the eggs and baked cookies. I remember being annoyed when my tita would tell the other kids where I hid the eggs :-)