Wawa Heritage Restaurant by PJ Arañador

Situated a stone’s throw away from the Jaro Plaza and Cathedral stands what could be mistaken as an art or fashion gallery. As passers by can only see a portion of it from below – ceiling decors made with cloths, shells and assorted chimes, among others, they would think its another museum of sorts.

WAWA HERITAGE RESTAURANT by PJ Arañador is a sort of eccentric-eclectic restaurant where diners can combine heritage and gastronomy – literally. As one enters, he is welcomed by a gallery of arts and crafts as Mr. Arañador is an Ilonggo international lifestyle designer.

Upstairs through a quaint flight of stairs, one is welcome with more of these an an even bigger display brings to life the the creativity of PJ Arañador. Most of these products are from a livelihood program being implemented by PJ and wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).They have partnered with GKonomics, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Business Fair Trade Consulting, and Sooc Social Ventures for the endeavor.

Dubbed Project Zero, the program aims to provide income to families through recycling of tarp materials previously used as Smart’s billboards and banners – turning them into artistic and useful objects like bags, home furnishings and ornaments.( Read more from anhadredwan blog)

The interiors and displays alone is a feast for the eyes – there’s a big table with a stones and shells underneath a glass panel.

Assorted woodworks line up the walls plus sculptures, carvings and photographs circle around like a museum.

It’s like a home in the tropics with all the trimmings that would seem to be a clutter at first glance but becomes a singular entity of good taste as each complements the other - wood with shells, cloths with ceramics, bamboo with clay, among others. There’s eveything for everyone to appreciate!

But my favorite part is hidden behind all these lavishness – an adaptation of “banggerahan”. Can’t really define it to a tee, but it’s a part of the house, mostly the kitchen where, it juts out and/or opens out and where washing and/or cooking is done. It’s where the restaurant would guests wash their hands and feel the rustic charm of country life – in the city.

And that brings us to the restaurant aspect – now where to begin? The chairs are draped with tarp materials so as the the placemats printed with a long list of “Iloilo’s Firsts”.

The menu book is so thick so for small restaurant having around 5 tables with four chairs each. But it’s main draw is the colorful cloth cover that says “Iloilo Hablon Patadyong” - telling non Ilonggos of the material cover for the menu book.

Opening the menu defines the history not only of Wawa but also a look into Iloilo’s glorious past – it’s heritage woven with gastronomy.

There you will not only learn what their specialties are but also have a crash course on Ilonggo cuisine. There you’ll how the native Ilonggo culinary artsevolved at the same time were swayed by the Chinese and Spanish, as the menu are categorized under these influences.

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