A holiday flavored with love and reconnections

Cooking for his family is Ayala Corporation Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal’s love language—that, and taking his daughters Christmas shopping, even across the miles

From playing Christmas carols full blast, to wrapping gifts for your Secret Santas, to ticking off your grocery list of ingredients for that dish you want to cook for your annual Noche Buena—it’s a time of year brimming with meaningful reunions and get-togethers with loved ones.

For Albert de Larrazabal, Ayala Corporation Chief Finance Officer, it’s a season for reconnecting and spending quality time with his family. “It’s a lot of family time—doing things and spending time together,” he said. This year is extra special for Albert and his family, as his two daughters, who are both based in Sydney, Australia, are finally coming home for Christmas after not being able to visit since the COVID-19 pandemic started. “They’ve been away from the rest of the family, so it’s going to be a special time. And I think that, beyond all the parties and dinners, it’s having them home that will be the nicest thing about this coming holiday,” he added, with palpable excitement.

As precise as Albert’s mathematical skill is his talent in the kitchen. Known for whipping up a hearty meal for his loved ones, Albert talked about the family tradition of a Christmas Eve feast, potluck style. Every year for many years now, he would prepare turkey, roast beef, and pancit molo. “One time, I had suggested that we change it, and I thought there was going to be a revolution! Everybody was upset that I even suggested it.”

Shopping as bonding

Whenever his daughters come home to visit, Albert would usually take them shopping as their Christmas gift. “It’s really such a fun experience, letting them choose and ask me what I think,” he shared. It also serves as bonding time for him and his daughters. He recalls a conversation he had with the parents of one of his daughter’s friends, when they asked if his daughter still held his hand in public. His answer: “Of course! You know, the secret is to take them shopping. At the very least, they will hold your hand to take you to the cashier to pay!”

Like shopping, sharing meals is a way for Albert to bond with his family. “When I’m cooking, they’re in the kitchen, and we try stuff while we’re having drinks,” he said. These pockets of quality time with his family are what he looks forward to the most during the holiday season.

Albert also bakes, and some of the desserts he makes are lemon meringue cheesecake, carrot cake, and apple pie, which his family and friends look forward to. “I use three different types of apples—red, green, and Fuji. The red gives the sweetness, the green gives the tartness, and the Fuji gives the body. And then we have this recipe for the crust to make it flaky. Most people use butter, but I use a combination of butter and Crisco—an old cooking technique that tends to make the crust flaky,” he explained.

Will the apple pie make an appearance at his family’s Christmas Eve feast? “I don’t know if it will, but it’s definitely going to be in the house when the girls arrive.”

Experiments

Albert likes to experiment in the kitchen. “I had a group of people over for dinner once. I made pan-fried goose liver on toast with balsamic vinegar, and they enjoyed that. When you cook the goose liver, there’s a lot of oil that comes out. The following morning, I made garlic fried rice with that, with fried eggs and bacon. It’s how you experiment with flavors—and what’s interesting about cooking is, it distracts you from things.” 

When it comes to his career, Albert said: “I truly enjoy my work.” It’s both a source of enjoyment and a mental challenge for him. While his family has always been supportive and understanding of his long work hours, he sees to it that he fully focuses on his family when he’s not working. 

On weekends, he spends time with his wife, having Saturday dinners and catching up on how their week has been. And even if his daughters are overseas, they continue their weekend family tradition with the help of technology. “We typically have Sunday lunch with my mom and the family. Since the girls are not around, I’ve given each of them an extension credit card. On weekends, they have lunch. We’re not exactly together, but it’s a connection—a continuity of that family lunch.” How exactly does that work? “I can continue the shopping sprees with my daughters! I’ll message them, and they’ll go out shopping. They’ll take photos or videos of what they’re looking at, and send it to me. Then they’ll sign for it with my credit card. It allows that tradition to continue.” 

Thankful

Last Christmas, Albert received what he considers the best Christmas gift. When he flew to Australia to visit his daughters, one of them contracted COVID. “We were uncertain as to whether we would be able to get together for Christmas Eve. Then we all tested negative that day, and we were able to spend it together. We even had Chinese food for Christmas. But you know what? It was probably one of the most special times. Everything fell into place, and it was just a great moment.

“It wasn’t about the gifts or the food—it was just about being together.”

This year, Albert remains thankful to be where he is today, with good health and a new role in the Ayala group. “I’m extremely grateful for my new job, something that I have enjoyed despite having started in it during the lockdown and handling things remotely. The group has been really, really welcoming, to the point that even after just one year and a half, I feel like I’ve been here forever. In terms of the workplace, I’m trying to spend more time mentoring people who can benefit from my prior experience.”

As the new year approaches, Albert shared these tips with the WeAreAyala community:

1.) Be conscious of your blessings. 

2.) Maximize pockets of opportunity.

3.) Be mindful of the communities we serve. 

There are always opportunities to help us continue on the path to recovery after the pandemic. And while doing so, it helps to be mindful of our role in making a difference. “As we do our work,” Albert concluded, “we are inspired by the fact that, in our own little way, we contribute to providing the necessary products and services for Filipinos.”