Lumpia, or Filipino spring rolls, were one his most frequently requested dishes when visiting his mother, and they're one of the first things he learned how to make.
These fried rolls are filled with moist ground pork, carrots, peas, and bean sprouts. Fish sauce adds a layer of salty complexity, but otherwise these are simply straight-up, easy-to-eat, fried goodness. Cooking the filling ahead of time and letting it cool and drain before wrapping keeps the rolls from sogging out and leaking into the hot oil, and Gapultos's freezing directions make the rolls easy to prepare and serve whenever a lumpia craving sets in.