Maruya ala-Bato: PNP chief shows off his cooking skills

A different side of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was seen during a segment on Unang Hirit on Wednesday as he shared the origins of his nickname while giving a unique twist to his favorite banana snack, maruya.

Dela Rosa disclosed that his nickname “Bato” came from Davao police senior officers who called him as such after undergoing training.

“'Yung pag-graduate ko sa PMA (Philippine Military Academy), nag-training kami ng Scout Ranger sa Tanay. Pag-report ko sa Davao, noong nakita ako ng senior officers, eh solid na solid katawan ko dahil galing training, sabi nila, ‘Si Bato, si Bato.’”

The tough-talking police chief said that coincidentally, he grew up in a barangay named Bato in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.

With his tough demeanor and the solid reputation the “Bato” name bears, who knew that dela Rosa has a soft spot?

Asked what makes him cry, he said the memory of his father always strikes close to his heart.

“Alam ko paano siya naghirap para palakihin ako. Kahit walang trabaho, naghanap talaga ng trabaho ‘yun para may makain kami sa bahay. Lumaki talaga kami sa kahirapan. Kaya idol ko ‘yung tatay ko,” he said.

During the episode, Dela Rosa also cooked his favorite food, fried banana fritters or what is locally known as maruya.

However, he has his own way of cooking it. Instead of peeling the whole banana first, he sliced the fruit first with the skin on, then peeled it. He would then directly deep-fry the banana slices without adding sugar.

He said he got this technique from his mother, who used to sell maruya when he was still a child.

“Mayroon kaming kasabihan: Kahit saging lang ang kinakain mo, basta loving kayo, okay lang ang buhay. Kaya makita mo mga Dabaweño, kahit mahirap, they love each other. Mahal namin ang aming kapwa,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also shared that he likes it when his wife cooks French toast for him.

Asked what he did when he first tasted his wife’s specialty, he said in jest, “Sinundan ko kaagad ng French kiss!” —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KG, GMA News