Pagkaing Pinoy

Filipino Food
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I guess the only real benefit we ever had from seemingly endless history of wars and colonization is that we got to pick-up (and mix and match) the good cooking. How do I say it best? I guess Filipino food is a little bit of everything from everywhere with an extra sprinkle of sweetness.

We love to eat. Of course we all want to stop and consider our health as we grow a bit older but in between being old enough to sit in a real chair at the dining table and realising you're at risk of high blood pressure - we eat. Want proof? Try visiting towns during fiestas and compare that with "usual" baptisms, birthdays, and weddings - notice any difference? I guess not.

The favorites? Lechon! All famous varieties of it (baka, baboy, manok). Seafood! Ginataang alimasag, tuna belly, buttered shrimp, relyenong bangus, and the list goes on. Veggies! Laing, tortang talong, steamed kangkong and bagoong - mouth's watery already. And there's eat-all-you-kanin (a term made famous by a fast food chain which means practically - bottomless steamed rice)! And to cap it off, dessert - leche flan, buco pandan, or mixed fruits that are perfectly ripe.

I did forget to mention that since it is fiesta, the drinks are not plain. There is sago't gulaman, buco juice, or seasonal fruit shakes. Heaven.

It is wonderful remembering fiestas one has visited. In the Philippines and especially back then when the economy was much better, people are very generous and welcoming. Even if you are a complete stranger for as long as you seem to mean well, every door is open and you are welcome to taste every home's handaan.

/pnt