A Gift of OTAP: Remembering the Kindness of Friends and Strangers-Part 2 of 2
David at 91 and Nearing 92 Blog Series
Three weeks ago after our FAHM celebration here at THD, I received an unexpected gift that brought a smile to my face and reminded me of something I have written about several times in my blogs: the kindness of friends and strangers.
The gift consisted of three different brands of OTAP, a popular Filipino pastry. The occasion was our celebration of Filipino-American History Month here at The Heritage Downtown (THD), the active senior community in Walnut Creek, California, where I have lived since June 2023.
As I looked at the three containers, I was pleasantly surprised to see three different varieties:
- Laura’s Buko-Pandan Flavored Otap - combining the familiar flavors of coconut and pandan.
- Magic Melt Ube Otap- featuring ube, the purple yam beloved by many Filipinos.
- Angelina OTAP - the traditional-looking, golden-colored pastry.
Three brands of a familiar Filipino delicacy! What a thoughtful way to celebrate our Filipino heritage.
But this simple gift meant more to me than the pastries themselves. It reminded me that kindness often comes in unexpected ways. Sometimes, a small gesture can awaken memories, bring people closer together, and remind us that we are not forgotten.
What Is OTAP, and How Is It Made?
For readers who may not be familiar with OTAP, it is a thin, oval-shaped, flaky, sugar-coated pastry closely associated with Cebu in the Philippines. It is a popular Filipino snack, often enjoyed with coffee or tea and shared with family and friends.
Traditional OTAP is made from dough prepared with flour, sugar, fat, and other ingredients. The dough is rolled and folded into thin layers, shaped into ovals, coated with sugar, and baked until crisp and golden. The layering produces its characteristic flaky texture.
Modern varieties offer familiar Filipino flavors such as ube and buko-pandan. These flavors reflect the creativity of Filipino food makers, who continue to introduce new twists to traditional favorites.
Like many Filipino delicacies, OTAP is more than food. It can be a little taste of home, especially for Filipinos living thousands of miles away from the Philippines.
The Kindness of Friends and Strangers
This gift brought me back to two of my earlier blog posts: My Father’s Lesson: The Value of Talking to Strangers and The Importance of Kindness.
My father taught us lessons that remained with me throughout my life. One lesson was the value of talking to people, even those we do not know. A stranger today may become a friend tomorrow. We should not be so preoccupied with our own lives that we fail to notice the people around us.
Over the years, I have learned that kindness does not always require money, extraordinary effort, or a special occasion. Sometimes, it is a smile, a friendly greeting, a listening ear, or a small gift offered without expecting anything in return.
At 91 and nearing 92 , I have lived long enough to appreciate these simple gestures. I have experienced kindness from family members, colleagues, friends, neighbors, and people I barely knew. Some of these acts were so small that the giver may have forgotten them, but their effect on the receiver lasted much longer.
We often think of kindness as something we give to others. However, receiving kindness is also a gift. It reminds us that we remain connected to other people and that even an ordinary day can bring an unexpected moment of happiness.
Filipino Hospitality Travels With Us
One of the qualities I have always admired about Filipinos is our tradition of hospitality. We welcome visitors, share our food, and often insist that guests eat something before leaving our homes.
Food has a special place in Filipino culture. Whether it is adobo, sinigang, pancit, lumpia, puto, leche flan, or a simple homemade snack, sharing food is one way we express affection and friendship.
Living here at THD gives me opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds and share stories about my Filipino ancestry. Our Filipino-American History Month celebration is another opportunity to introduce a little piece of our culture to fellow residents.
The gift of OTAP was a reminder that cultural traditions need not be preserved only through formal programs, speeches, or displays. They can also be shared through a familiar pastry, a conversation about its origins, and the memories it brings back.
I do not know whether the person who gave me the OTAP realized how much this simple gesture would mean to me. Perhaps it was simply a thoughtful contribution to our celebration. But that is often how kindness works: the giver performs a small act, while the receiver discovers a much larger meaning.
A Lesson at 91 and Nearing 92
As I grow older, I find myself reflecting more often on the people who have touched my life. Some have been with me for decades; others crossed my path only briefly. Yet both friends and strangers have contributed to the person I have become.
My late wife, Macrine, and I spent many years helping others, including participating in medical missions in Marinduque. She often reminded us that we had not truly lived unless we had touched the lives of others.
I still believe in that lesson.
But I have also learned that we should be humble enough to appreciate the kindness that comes our way. We cannot always be the giver. Sometimes, we must allow others the pleasure of giving to us.
So, thank you to whoever made these three containers of OTAP part of my Filipino-American History Month experience. You gave me more than a Filipino snack. You gave me another reason to reflect on kindness, friendship, cultural heritage, and the many little blessings that make life meaningful.
At 91and nearing 92, I may no longer travel as freely as I once did, but memories, friendships, food, and writing continue to take me places.
And sometimes, all it takes is a little OTAP.
A Final Thought and a Poem :
Kindness need not be grand or planned,
Nor offered with a helping hand.
A little gift, a smile, a word,
Can bring more joy than we have heard.
For in this life, as years go by,
The smallest acts can touch the sky.
And those who give, and those who receive,
Make this a kinder world in which to live.
Meanwhile, My Photos of the Day: My Everblooming Bougainvillas in MY Patio -October 9, 2026
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