Understanding the Filipino Culture

Filipino Food: Savor, Spice and All Things Nice

By: Yasmine Anne Sison

“Dalawa nga pong balut.”

A phrase that pretty much summarizes typical Filipinos’ crazy cravings.
Vivid and eye-catching colors like the famous orange of kwek-kwek and fried isaw (chicken
entrails) that just tempt people to spend their pocket money for this street food they always seem to fail
to resist.
Then there’s the always pleasing aroma of sweet gulaman that brings joy with each sip. Your
tongue savoring each drop of the beverage, as the coolness of the drink refreshes you as soon as the
liquid is in contact with your taste buds.
People enjoy eating good food. But when the ambience steals the scene, it becomes clear that it
hard not to focus more on the food than the surroundings. How nicely put together the place is. This is
essentially why the food parks. Food parks sell a variety of foods, and with that, they use their good
tactics to attract more people. One of those tactics being the creation of an aesthetic.
We all know that we can better enjoy savor the quality taste when surrounded in a pleasant
environment that wraps around us in a warm embrace, as we take bites out of our comfort foods.
However, delicious food for Pinoys does not solely have to be appealing to the eye or be
enjoyed in a nice place, but must be able to satisfy the taste that Pinoys look for. What is that taste that
we can’t stop ourselves from looking for?
The taste of friendships. The “food trips” you would have with your friends after class hours.
Where you would take your time to commute just to enjoy their company and casual, comfortable
conversation brewed because of food. The taste of family brought together by the themed cafés you
stop by every once in a while, to delight in the fact of bonding all so effortlessly, while also having fun.
The taste of culture. It is in our veins to have our own unique foods that we still cannot stop enjoying.
Halo-halo, homemade meals like adobo, our party pancit and lots more!