MANILA, — Cristeta Comerford, the first female and first minority executive chef of the US White House, was a Manila-grown girl who was fond of the local confectionery Chocnut, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported yesterday.

The report said Comerford, who was born Cristeta Gomez Pasia on Oct. 27, 1962, is the daughter of Honesto, an assistant principal in a public elementary school in Manila, and Erlinda, a homemaker.

She finished elementary at Padre Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila, and her secondary education at the Manila Science High School.

“During those years, Comerford’s mother did most of the cooking for the family,” said the report, quoting her eldest brother Dan Pasia, who is an environmental activist based in Manila.

Pasia said that Comerford’s interest in cooking only became evident when she entered the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, as a food technology major.

Pasia said his sister had a sweet tooth and loved Chocnut, which is still a favorite of many Filipinos up to this time. He also described her as a lively girl who was always smiling.

“She never seemed to have any problems, even though our family was not that rich,” Pasia told the Inquirer.

Comerford also appears to have been a low-key student. Some food technology professors said they did not remember having her as a student, it said.

Comerford had three leaves of absence during her stay at UP, all of them for “traveling purposes.”

She never came back to finish her course after her last leave in academic year 1983-1984, according to the UP College of Home Economics.

But she was able to complete 84 units, sufficient for her to be considered a UP alumnus, the Inquirer said.

Pasia said his sister never returned because she had already immigrated to the United States to join their parents. There, she honed her cooking skills and managed to become chef in different hotels before getting the job of assistant chef at the White House kitchen in 1995.

Last week, Comerford was chosen from hundreds of applicants to head the executive kitchen to replace Walter Scheib III, who resigned in February.

Scheib said Comerford was a “wonderful choice,” adding that she was a great cook with an artistic eye and a calm demeanor.

Yesterday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo paid tribute to Comerford, saying her feat epitomized the great work that Overseas Filipino Workers “have been doing these many years.”

“I cannot miss the chance to talk about our one export who has risen to the top of her game and does the Philippines proud. Congratulations, Cristeta,” the president said in a speech before members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (From an INS report)