MANILA - A Filipino American chef at the White House was treated like a celebrity upon her return to the Philippines.

Cristeta Comerford was overwhelmed by the homecoming given to her by her kababayans.

"You just don't know how humbled and just honored I am to be in the presence of these Filipinos,” Comerford said.

It was her first visit to the Philippines since being named executive chef at the White House in 2005.

Comerford was honored in the 2009 BPInoy Awards for her achievements in the culinary arts.

Comerford was born in Sampaloc, Manila and studied Food Technology in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. She studied and worked in a number of top restaurants abroad.

She was named Executive Chef at the White House in 2005 by then US President George W. Bush and has stayed under the Obama Administration.

She said the most powerful couple in the world is fond of healthy and organic foods.

Comerfood is already an American citizen. However, she said she is a proud of her Filipino lineage and she loves cooking Filipino food as well.

“It’s always there. It’s always a part of me because it’s something that I've learned from my mom,” she said.

Comerford said determination and hard work are the necessary ingredients for one to become successful in his or her chosen field. With Mornings@ANC