Had a Vigan empanada for merienda. While eating it, I was reminded of the group of Marines at the U.S. Embassy the year I retired. They were young, friendly, and enterprising. Every week they set up a food stall in the lobby and sold two varieties of Irish pasties (pronounced PASS-tees), which originally were miners' brownbag meals.

Those Marines must have been reassigned elsewhere now, and I envy the people who are currently enjoying their pasties.