THE EXTRAORDINARY MAN BEHIND MABUHAY RESTAURANT & CATERING

Stop by the New Mabuhay Restaurant and Catering, a simple, non-fancy Filipino restaurant located in a mini-mall on 1232 Bloomingdale Rd., Glendale Heights, IL. on any ordinary day, either for lunch or dinner, for buffet or ala carte eating, or even for a purchase of convenience Filipino grocery stuff that are ideally located in the left side of the entryway.

The Man of the Hour, Pastor Gil Valenzuela, Chef & owner, might not be in sight, except his charming wife Edith or some other help who’d hand you the restaurant menu and/or ask for your preferred drink while making a decision on what to order. In a few minutes, Gil will appear from the kitchen with his signature sweet smiles, with welcoming gestures mixed with exchanges of pleasantries, that is, if he’s not that busy in the kitchen or assisting someone in grocery shopping or even doing cashiering.

And, if ever, you’d have the lucky chance to really have a pleasant tete-a-tete with this simple-looking guy who talks with no airs at all, telling you what he does and “does not do,” giving you his heart, mind and soul, then you will be so engaged to give him your ear and learn from this sage’ s words.

Gil Valenzuela, as stated in the cover of this issue, is a multi-talented, multi-tasking person, a super-hero and a role model for some people who know him well.  How did he evolve as a multi-faceted man, like a jewel in this earth? What motivates him to execute the things that he is doing and be so passionate about it? What are his dreams, and the legacy that he wants to impart with us?  What are the life’s lessons that he can share with us and which we can learn from? These are some questions that he willingly and sincerely answers and shares with us in this interview. Furthermore, what is so extraordinary about Pastor Gil Valenzuela? Let’s venture together in reading about Pastor Gil Valenzuela.

AS AN ARTIST: I like working with my hands–drawing, sketching, painting. I did not paint seriously until I saw an art exhibit at Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat, Oman. I thought I could do better than some of the art items on display. I tried, and the following year my works were part of the exhibits. But my painting went only for a season. I don’t have the luxury of time to paint more. This is one of the things I’d like to do when I retire! (Author’s Note: The Mabuhay Restaurant’s walls are adorned by some of his masterpieces. The Valenzuela family lived in Oman in the Middle East before migrating to the U.S.).

AS A SINGER:  When I was diagnosed with colon cancer, I made a bucket list. One of the things I listed was to record a music CD. Few weeks before my scheduled surgery the record “My Tribute,” was completed. Singing became my healing balm. It lifted me up from depression and prepared me for whatever might happen. Here’s an excerpt of the essay I wrote on my CD cover: “This music recording is an overflow of God’s blessings poured into my heart when the Lord touched me in a very special way while dealing with cancers These songs bring comfort, peace, strength, assurance, hope and answers to my many questions.  Singing has become a healing balm to me. I sing all the time. I sing the moment I wake up. I sing when I’m glad as well as when I’m sad. I sing when I’m mad. I sing when I get frustrated. I sing in the kitchen. I sing in the shower. I sing in the car. I sing when I pray. I sing when I’m in pain. I sing aloud. I sing in silence. I burst into singing when I teach and preach.” (Author’s Note): He sings solo or sometimes with his wife, Edith, in some parties held at Mabuhay, upon request).

AS A BLOGGER:  After surviving cancer, I thought I should write my life story for my family, children and grandchildren to know. So, I started writing everyday on spiral notebook. My daughter suggested that I do it on a computer and share my story to my friends via the internet.  Hence the blog site gilvalenzuela.net. I publish my blog every two weeks. There are thousands of people spread out in 70 countries reading and following my blog.  (Author’s Note: We simply can’t wait for the publication of his life story, his Big Dream in the Making).

AS A PASTOR: I started my ministry while working in the Middle East. A small Bible Study, organized by my wife and I and other Filipinos became a church. I became one of the leaders of that church. That’s how the Lord called me into Christian ministry. We came to America to pursue seminary studies to prepare for full-time pastoral work. I studied Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. I also took Ph.D. course work in the area of Inter-cultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. My wife and I, who also had Master’s in Biblical Studies, were assigned by the Illinois District of the Wesleyan Church as church planters. In 2012, we founded the Lord of the Nations Church which we are now pastoring. Our congregation used to rent a church building but now we use the Mabuhay Restaurant as our worship venue on Sunday afternoons. (Author’s Note: Pastor Valenzuela’s congregation gets treated to a FREE meal after the service inside the restaurant on Sundays).

AS CHEF/RESTAURANT OWNER:  I like to cook. I grew up in a family of cooks. Everything I know about authentic Filipino cooking, I learned from my mother who cooked for weddings and fiestas. She also peddled cooked food in the wet market. I started my food business in 1987 in the Middle East while working as an expat Engineer in Muscat, Oman. Filipinos were craving for Filipino food. I produced longanisa, tocino, lumpia, lechon kawali, and other Filipino favorites. I doubled my income peddling cooked food to my fellow Filipino expats.

I did not plan to run a restaurant business here in America until my brother-in-law and his family came to America from the Middle East. He couldn’t find a good employment so we partnered and ventured in Restaurant business. Unfortunately, he passed away and his wife who was supposed to continue the Restaurant decided to go back to the Philippines. So, I was left with the business. Mabuhay Filipino Cuisine was located inside the H-Mart food court in Naperville, IL. This store did not do well and closed down. But I continued the endeavor in a new location in Glendale Heights. The business was renamed as the New Mabuhay Restaurant and Catering. We offer daily turo-turo (cooked food), Brunch Buffet on Saturdays and Lunch Buffet on Sundays. Mabuhay Restaurant is big on catering. Our bread and butter is the catering of big corporate offices around Chicagoland.  Our catering clients include United Airlines corporate office, AON, DHL, Kraft Foods, BMO Harris Bank, American Hotel Register, O’Hare Plaza, LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, ATI Physical Therapy, Advocate Health, Northshore Hospitals, NW’s Kellogg’s School of Business, Roosevelt University, Pampered Chef, Morraine College, and many more. We set up our food at a lobby or a section of a cafeteria and employees of these offices line up to buy their lunch and we always sell out.

This Christmas season, Mabuhay will be catering to several Catholic Parishes for their Simbang Gabi traditional masses. Our restaurant is fast becoming a favorite venue for parties and family events (birthdays, anniversaries, funeral luncheons, club meetings, etc.) because we have a large dining space that can accommodate up to 100 guests.  (Author’s Note:  We attended a couple of occasions held at Mabuhay, where satisfied customers gave unsolicited remarks and compliments over Mabuhay’s savory and delicious food).

AS A FAMILY MAN:  My wife Edita and I are blessed with three children and five grandchildren, soon to be six. They are all named after me: Gilda, Gilson and Gilary. They are all adults now, making me and my wife empty-nesters. Gilda is a mother of two beautiful kids: Camden and Lyla. Gilson is a father to three gorgeous kids: Liam, Evelyn and Ryland. The fourth child will be born in March next year. Gilary, our youngest, is senior in college and will graduate in June 2018. I consider my family as my greatest achievement. (Author’s Note: Besides busying himself with everything that he does daily in the restaurant, he and Edita also make time to watch over two young apos (grandkids), ages 8 to 10, if necessary).

The Man of the Hour, Pastor Gil Valenzuela, poses inside the Mabuhay Restaurant with his signature smile, during the interview.

Veronica’s interview session with Pastor Gil Valenzuela.

Pastor Gil attending to customers Leticia Suarez (President/CEO of Save the Seniors Services) and her daughter, at the cashier, a welcome break during the interview.

Proud parents Gil & Edita with children Gilda, Gilson and Gilary.

Mabuhay staff with owner Gil Valenzuela and family at the grand opening of the Mabuhay Restaurant,
posing in front of the restaurant’s door.

Gil with daughter Gilary, Miss Illinois 2016.

Gil with daughter Gilda, Mrs. Chicago 2017.

The Valenzuela’s: Gil & Edita, children, in-laws and grandchildren.

Gil & Edita with grandchildren.

Restaurant wall displays Gil’s oil paintings of his grandchildren.

Colorful parols are now on display inside the Mabuhay windows.

Muzik Engine Band, currently playing at the Mabuhay Restaurant every last Friday of the month, posing with Mabuhay Restaurant owners Pastor Gil and Edita Valenzuela.