Flavors of the Philippines. Where Did Your Favorite Filipino Food Really Come From?

Flavors of the Philippines. Where Did Your Favorite Filipino Food Really Come From?

 

 Ever wonder how your favorite Filipino dish came about?  Have you ever noticed how the cooking methods and use of ingredients in one region of the Philippines differs from the other? Recognizing the similarities and differences of Pinoy Foods with dishes from other countries helps us to better understand its origin?

There are a lot of questions to ask regarding the origin of Filipino Food but I think that it would really help if we first define what Filipino Food is.

How do we define it?

We all know that it comes in different names such as: Filipino food, Pinoy food, Pagkaing Pinoy, Pinoy dishes, Filipino dishes, Lutong Bahay (though this is general). Regardless of the term we use, Filipino foods (in my opinion) can be any of the following:

• Foods that are native to the Philippines (Authentic Filipino foods)
• Variation of foreign foods modified to suit the Filipino taste (e.g. Pinoy Spaghetti).

Filipino foods, like the people, are diverse in many ways. During the pre-Hispanic period, nearby countries (located south) like Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia influenced the manner of food preparation in some Southern Philippine islands.

The use of spices such as curry, cumin, and paprika plus the method of cooking meat in coconut milk were just some of it.

During the Spanish colonization, Filipinos learned to eat Spanish foods and use different kinds of spices (as taught during our history classes, the Philippines was accidentally discovered while Magellan was searching for the spice island of Moluccas).

This was also the start of the spice trade between Spain, the Philippines, and Tidorein Maluka  (present day Moluccas).

The Chinese also traded with the Filipinos as early as the 15th century. Remember Quiroga in El filibusterismo?

 This was when Chinese food was introduced. Along with the Chinese were other traders such as the Arabs and Indians which also left some influences.

Later on, Americans came and introduced American food which was welcomed and immediately embraced by the Filipinos.

Indeed, the Philippines has a very rich history. Along with the history are the rich food brought about by the influences of different cultures.

Food can introduce Filipino culture to the rest of the world.

Your thoughts?

 

How many Exotic Foods of the Philippines do you eat? I have eaten all but two on this list... (Click) to see the pics

I have eaten all but two on this list... How many of these Exotic Foods of the Philippines do you eat? (Click) to see the pics

Every country has their share of exotic foods served on the table with some even known as the country's specialty. The Philippines is no different.  Here are a few of those I found.

There are so many Filipino exotic foods that are truly unique and delicious.  Below you will find some of the many Filipino exotic foods.

Some of them have a strange appearance and look weird.  There are some people that dive right in and eat them while others find them not acceptable or not appropriate to eat. Personally, I fall somewhere in between.

That being said... If you follow the adage "don't judge the book by its cover", then you will able to eat each of these without hesitation.

This saying really applies to unique exotic foods of the Philippines.  I have eaten all but two on the following list.  And for me most of it was overcoming the mental challenge involved in getting it into my mouth.  And "YES," I ate the balut.

BALUT

Balut is a fertilized duck (or chicken) egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell.

Balut eggs are believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack.

Balut is sold primarily by street vendors in the regions where they are available.

SOUP NUMBER 5

Soup Number Five, is a soup made from bull's testicles or penis.

Like balut, it is believed to have aphrodisiac tendencies that makes people say it is better than spending money on Viagra..

GINATAANG KUHOL

The French call "kuhol" by the name  "escargot". Kuhol or escargot is an edible snail. Guinataang Kuhol is a favorite appetizer in Filipino restaurants. It is also a popular pica-pica (finger food) that goes well with cold beer. Ginataang kuhol is a spicy dish.


 DINUGUAN

Dinuguan is a Filipino savory stew of blood and meat (typically stomach, intestines, ears, heart and snout) simmered in a rich, spicy dark gravy of pig blood, garlic, chili , and vinegar.

TAMILOK

In Palawan and Aklan in the Philippines, the woodworm is called tamilok  and it is eaten as a delicacy there.

Tamilok is prepared as kinilaw—that is, raw (cleaned) but marinaded with vinegar or lime juice, chopped chili peppers and onions, a process very similar to ceviche. The taste and texture has been compared to oysters and clams.
 

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Crab Mentality and Ways To Cope

The phrase crab mentality is one that many of us are familiar with, or have fallen victim too. It is a mental mindset that best describes individuals who possess a selfish, short-sighted way of seeing the world.

It’s basically saying, “If I can’t have it, neither should you.” Normally, it is not a compliment to an individual’s character or personality if they are referred to having a crab mentality; it is actually something that a lot of us would see as being an insult.

The phrase derived from what occurs when you place several crabs in one container. If one crab attempts to escape a bucket of live crabs, the other crabs will attempt to pull it back down, rather than allowing the crab whom is trying to escape  to gain its freedom.

The process, if you ever get the chance to watch at times seems underhanded, because the crabs at the bottom of the container will allow the one crab to get almost to the top and getting a sight of its freedom, before snagging it back down; just to start the process all over again.

The crabs are oblivious to the fact that eventually they all will meet their fate and that not even one of them would ever see or feel freedom ever again; which I imagine is of no concern to them.

When a person is said to have a crab mentality, it simply means they are unwilling to allow someone else to escape a situation, are plagued with jealousy and envy, or possess the need to stop the successful progress of another.
In the mental mindset of someone who has a crab mentality, their train of thought is to sabotage another persons plan for attempting to leave a life that may not have rendered the other individual any good whatsoever. That is simply of no concern to the crabbily individuals.

Instead of using their resources or simple encouragement to help advance other’s; they would rather not lend any support at all.

Sometimes even going as far as to trying to break the person spirit or means of advancement altogether, by talking negatively about the person or insulting the individual’s self-worth.  They ever go through the extremes of criticizing any attempts one might have towards self-betterment.

There is no age cap on this type of mentality; it’s in every gender, and every race, and in every social standing. It’s found in our jobs, our schools, our homes, and yes even in the blog world. I have found that a lot of times, those who are guilty of the mentality, deny that they even have it at all.

It’s the inability to be happy for someone else that is taking the necessary steps to move forward; instead, that person is classified as, “trying to be better”, “trying to be like someone else”, or “trying to be something that they are not.” It never registers to the crab mentality holder that the person, maybe just wants to better themselves.
So below I’ve come up with some easy fixes to cope with those who possess such foolishness.

Ways to Cope with Crab Mentality

When handling a person that has a crab mentality you must first see them for who they really are. And, you’ll be able to pinpoint them easily; they truly can’t help exposing themselves.

You tell them a dream that you have or a goal that you’re trying to reach; and they tear it into little bitty pieces, as though your dreams was paper and they were paper shredders.

After you know the truth about these individuals and have placed them in the category of having a “crab mentality”, you then should protect your dreams and goals from these individuals.

They can’t tear up, what they don’t know about, right?

Place those gems (your dreams and goals) only in people who believe you can achieve what you’re setting out to do. They will in turn give you insight, encouragement, and inspiration to reach those things you wish to obtain.

After you have categorized these individuals you should then steer clear of them…. all of them!
Not forever if that’s not what you’re able to do, but for as long as you can until your gems take shape and you’re able to be around them without them influencing your progress.

Lastly, keep your eyes open and avoid having the mentality yourself. Since no one is exempt from practicing this selfish behavior, you should look for the first sign of you possessing the trait and eliminate it immediately.

By supporting someone else’s dream or helping them to reach their goal, you may just find that you have actually helped yourself to get little bit closer to reaching your own.

Let’s discuss now, shall we? 

Have you ever had to deal with someone who possessed a crab mentality? 

How did you handle the individual? 

What advice would you give to other’s who may have found themselves surrounded by individuals who see their personal growth as trying to be better?






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If you like this and other Filipino related topics, food,  humor and videos be sure to visit us on Facebook at Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene.

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October is Filipino Heritage Month - Who are the Filipino Americans?

October is Filipino Heritage Month - Who are the Filipino Americans?

Filipino Americans are immigrants to the United States from one of the 7,107 islands and islets that form the archipelago of the Philippines, and their U.S.-born descendants. In the United States, Filipinos are categorized as Asian Americans. This official category is used to refer to people who can trace their ancestry to the peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian sub-continent. However, Filipinos are unique within the Asian groups given the strong Spanish influence in their culture in addition to Chinese and Malaysian influences.

 The Philippine Islands were under Spanish colonial rule from 1565 through 1898. In 1564 Miguel López de Legazpi, acting on behalf of King Philip II of Spain, set off on an expedition to colonize and Christianize the archipelago. He landed in Cebu in 1565, and during the next seven years transformed the Philippines into a Spanish colony and the only Christian nation in Asia. About one hundred years before the arrival of the Spaniards, the religious traditions of Filipinos had been strongly influenced by Muhammadans, also known as Moors or Moros. In fact, even after the Spaniards' arrival, conversion to Christianity was not uniform; the Moors in the southern Philippines successfully resisted Spanish influence for three centuries.


American Control of the Philippines

The Philippines and the United Stated have had a long-lasting, intertwined political history. At the close of the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States paid Spain $20 million at the close of the Treaty of Paris, wherein Spain relinquished claims on the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Initially, U.S. military forces controlled only Manila and surrounding geographic areas. Early in 1899, the Philippine-American War began as the United States tried to gain greater control of the archipelago, whose inhabitants had already fought for and declared a Philippine Republic headed by Emilio Aguinaldo. The war ended in 1902. President Theodore Roosevelt's peace proclamation applied to all except the "country inhabited by the Moro tribes," located in the southern lands of the archipelago. Some scholars contend that the Philippine-American War extended unofficially until 1912 or 1913. On 4 July 1946, the United States granted independence to the Philippines, marking the formation of the second Philippine Republic. However, Filipinos and Filipino Americans celebrate Independence Day on 12 June, the date when the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898.

There have been four identified waves of Filipino migration to the United States, each marked by a particular sociopolitical context that has shaped both Filipino and American history. The beginning of the first wave was in 1763, although Filipino migration to the United States has been documented as early as 1587, when so-called Luzon Indians landed in Morro Bay, California. The Indians were crewmembers of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Buena Esperanza. These early travels by the Luzon are not surprising given that their lands were among the first colonized by Spaniards in the 1560s.

Filipino Migration

In the first wave of Filipino migration, Filipino seamen (Manilamen) in Acapulco crossed the Gulf of Mexico to Barataria Bay in Louisiana in 1763. They established a series of Philippine-style fishing villages and pioneered the dried shrimp industry in America. In 1781, Antonio Miranda Rodríguez, a Filipino, and his eleven-year-old daughter were sent by the Spanish government from Mexico to settle the Pueblo de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles de Porciúncula, later known as the city of Los Angeles. The second wave of migration to America occurred between 1906 and 1935, after the United States had gained control of the islands. It brought students, scholars (pensianados), and workers. More than 125,000 Filipinos migrated to Hawaii to work on Hawaiian sugarcane plantations. The Filipino presence in Hawaii continues to be significant. In 1994, Ben Cayetano, Hawaii's fifth governor and the first of Filipino heritage, took office; he was reelected in 1998. Some Filipinos in the second wave of immigration went to labor in the farms of California and canneries of Alaska. This led to the prominent participation of Filipinos in the United Farm Workers, most famous for its 1965 Delano, California, grape strike.

The third and fourth waves of migration follow each other very closely. The third wave began with the end of World War II (1939–1945) and lasted through 1965. These immigrants traveled to the United States mostly to join the U.S. Navy as noncitizens. The fourth wave of migration came with the passage in 1965 of the Immigration and Nationality Act that removed the 1924 national origins quota system. This wave of migration has been characterized as the "brain drain" wave because of the high numbers of Filipino professionals moving to the United States.

Filipinos As a Component of the U.S. Population

Filipino Americans make up 2.4 million of the 11.9 million Asian Americans in the United States. They are the second largest Asian subgroup in America, closely trailing the 2.7 million Chinese Americans in the country. Filipinos provided the largest number of immigrants from any Asian group between 1981 and 1998, bringing over 927,000 new immigrants to the United States during this seventeen-year span. The majority of these immigrants settled in California (47 percent of all immigrants from the Philippines settled there in 1998). In 1999, of the 1.5 million foreign born Filipinos living in the United States, over 61 percent were naturalized citizens. Although the information is scant, available vital and health statistics for Filipino Americans compare favorably to those for other ethnic minorities in America. In 1998, 6.2 percent of births to Filipinas were to teen mothers, 19.7 percent were to unwed mothers (a far second place among Asian Americans to Hawaii's 51.1 percent), 84.2 percent of Filipino American mothers began prenatal care in the first trimester, and 8.2 percent of their children were born in the low birth weight category. These numbers are not surprising, given that the Philippine nation of over 74 million people has similarly low rates of children born to teen mothers (3.9 percent) and born at low birth weight (9 percent) along with high rates of immunization, with anywhere between 71 percent and 91 percent of children immunized for various illnesses. Filipino Americans have higher than national average rates of participation in the workforce, high school graduation, and college graduation. Even though Filipino Americans have over twice the national proportion of three or more household members participating in the workforce, their per capita income is slightly below the national average, although they have below national average poverty rates. Filipino Americans are most notably visible in Hawaii, Alaska, California, and Nevada.

Are you interested in all things Filipino - Pinoy or Pinay? If so, we invite you to join us aat Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene!

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Bibliography

Bautista, Veltisezar. The Filipino Americans (1763–Present): Their History, Culture, and Traditions. 2d ed. Naperville, Ill.: Book-haus, 2002.

Scharlin, Craig, and Lila V. Villanueva. Philip Vera Cruz: A Personal History of Filipino Immigrants and the Farm Workers Movement. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2000.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. "The Asian Population: 2000." Available from http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-16.pdf

PINOY TRIVIA: Why do so many Filipino women (and men) carry "Maria" in their names?

PINOY TRIVIA: Why do so many Filipino women (and men) carry "Maria" in their names?

Many Filipinos carry Maria in their names dates back to Spanish times when parishes would refuse to baptize a child unless the parents chosen name included the allusion to the Virgin Mary/Sta Maria. The practice persist to this day, but on a far less pervasive scale.

PINOY TRIVIA: When and who introduced the English language in the Philippines ? If you thought it was America, like I did, you would be wrong.

PINOY TRIVIA: When and who introduced the English language in the Philippines ?  If you thought it was America, like I did, you would be wrong.
 
The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest English-speaking nation, next to the USA and the UK.

Filipinos were introduced to the English language in 1762 by British invaders, not Americans.

A British conquest of the Spanish Philippines occurred between 1762 and 1764, although the only part of the Philippines which the British actually occupied was the Spanish colonial capital Manila and the nearby principal port, Cavite, both on Manila Bay.

On 24 September 1762, the small but technically proficient force of British Army regulars and British East India Company soldiers, supported by the ships and men of the East Indies Squadron of the British Royal Navy, sailed into Manila Bay from Madras. The expedition, led by Brigadier General William Draper and Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish, captured Manila, "the greatest Spanish fortress in the western Pacific", and attempted to establish free trade with China.

On 2 November 1762, Dawsonne Drake of the British East India Company assumed gubernatorial office as the British governor of Manila. He was assisted by a council of four, consisting of John L. Smith, Claud Russel, Henry Brooke and Samuel Johnson.

British author Nicholas Tracy writes that the British only ever continuously controlled Manila and nearby Cavite. But Manila was the capital, and key, to the Spanish Philippines, and the British accepted the written surrender of the Spanish government in the Philippines from Archbishop Rojo and the Real Audiencia on 30 October 1762.

The isolated British presence in the Philippines was precarious and attempts to extend their rule outside of Manila and Cavite were unsuccessful, with only a few areas briefly coming under their authority or influence. The Seven Years War was ended by the Treaty of Paris (1763) signed on 10 February 1763. The British ended their rule by embarking from Manila and Cavite in the first week of April 1764, and sailing out of Manila Bay for Batavia, India, and England.

Hmmm When I say "Eat-all-you-can" what sorts of feelings does this conjure up for you?

Hmmm When I say "Eat-all-you-can"  what sorts of feelings does this conjure up for you?  What do you think of when you hear this familiar term?   Do you get hungry like I do?   Did you all of the sudden get hungry just with the thought of this?  :-))) 

If you are not familiar with the term I shall explain. 

In the Philippines buffet restaurants are called "Eat-all-you-can" restaurants.

Eat-all-you-can restaurants are popular among barkadas (a Filipino term meaning a group of friends) and families who are looking for a food adventure.  These are great for people who like to eat a lot, like lots of variety, don't like to dress up, and they will be popular with the kids, too.

Like buffet restaurants, in the USA, "Eat-all-you-can" restaurants are made up of long tables filled with salads, soup, rice, Pinoy dishes, Chinese foods and several other kinds of dishes, fruits and desserts.

So the next time you are feeling hunger pangs and not sure what you feel like eating visit an "Eat-all-you-can" restaurant and have your choice of foods and deserts.


Maybe Lucy and I will see you at one of them.  :-)))

FILIPINO FOOD 101: WHEN COOKING FILIPINO FOODS IN THE USA ARE PINOY INGREDIENTS A SECRET? [ CLICK THIS ]

FILIPINO FOOD 101:  WHEN COOKING FILIPINO FOODS IN THE USA ARE PINOY INGREDIENTS A SECRET?

If NOT, why are those ingredients so hard to find? The secret is out - allow me share what I have learned.

Did you ever get a Filipino Recipe from someone in the Philippines, you then go to the store to buy the ingredients only to get frustrated because you cannot find those ingredients here in the USA? You are not alone and it has happened to me too.

Many years ago, before Lucy and I were married, I purchased a Filipino Cook Book at the National Book Store in Cebu. I already knew that Lucy did not know how to cook so my plan was simple.  While immigrations is processing her paperwork I would learn how to prepare some of her favorite dishes and when she arrives in the USA I would already know how to cook her favorite foods for her.

Thinking ahead, I even had her mark her favorite foods in this cook book before I returned to Arizona. I was excited and knew I was ready.

In theory this idea sounded good yet I can still remember my frustration, when I got home and started making a grocery list so I could practice cooking the first recipe.  What a nightmare....

I remember taking my list of ingredients to Frys, my local grocery store and I could not find them. I was not off to a good start and began getting frustrated. Next I went to Bashas Grocery Store and they did not have them either. And I even went to Lee Lee's Oriental Market. Not there either. What the heck? Ay Naku, learning to make Lucy's favorite Filipino foods was going to be more of a challenge than I first thought.

You see, I was a bit confused about the ingredient names.

In the cook book and in the Philippines they called an ingredient by one name and in the United States we called that same ingredient by another name. How confusing.

Thank God I knew some Filipina here who know how to cook and they helped me prepare this list. Since we first made this list it has grown and grown. Today, after 11 years, I will share this list with you.

This list has helped me over the years and I hope this will prevent any of you from being confused about what the Filipino ingredients are called in English.

Here are some Filipino or Tagalog words used in Food Recipes and their corresponding English translation, definition, or meaning.

ON THE LEFT:     I provided some popular Filipino ingredients

ON THE RIGHT:     I put what they are called here in the USA.

I hope this list helps you as it helped me.

Achuete or Achiote – Annatto seeds (red seeds used to color food)

Adobo - braised meat; cooked over slow fire using vinegar, water, and black peppercorn, with soy sauce for color and saltiness, or with achuete for red color; may be considered the national food in the Philippines

Alimasag - salt water crab; blue crabs

Alugbati – Malabar Night Shade or Spinach

Ampalaya – Bitter melon or Bitter gourd

Asin – Salt

Baboy – Pork or Pig

Baka – Beef

Bagnet - Crispy deep fried pork belly - great for adding to pinakbet.

Bagoong alamang – A condiment made from fermented salted fish or shrimp paste

Bagoong isda – Fermented salted anchovies

Baguio beans – Green beans

Banana leaf - the leaf of the banana plant that has many uses in Filipino cooking such as wrapping food, as cover and underliner, or for packaging.

Bangus - milkfish, considered the national fish of the Philippines

Bawang – Garlic

Bihon – Rice noodles

Bigas - Rice

Binagoongan - cooking with bagoong

Buko – Young coconut

Bulalo – Beef shanks

Buntot ng baka - Ox tail

Calamansi – Filipino lime, a Philippine citrus fruit and souring agent “Lemon” is the best substitute

Canton – Egg noodles

Chicharon – Pork rinds

Chorizo - general name for Spanish sausage

Dahon ng gabi - taro leaves

Dahon ng sili - chili leaves

Daing - dried fish or picked fish, usually cut butterfly-style

Dilis – Anchovies

Dugo – Pork, Beef, and Chicken blood used for cooking

Estofado - Braised in soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar

Gabe – Taro = Root or Leaves

Galapong - Rice dough made of glutinous rice

Galunggong – Round Scads or Mackerel Scads

Gata – Coconut milk obtained from the pressing of grated mature coconut meat mixed with water

Giniling na baboy - Ground pork

Gulaman - Gelatin

Halayang ube - purple yam jam

Hamon – Ham

Hipon – Shrimp

Hugas bigas - water obtained from washing rice grains and used as broth base for sinigang

Inihaw - charcoal-grilled or broiled

Isda – Fish

Itlog na maalat - Salted duck egg (related to Balut)

Kabute – Mushroom

Kakang gata - pure coconut cream obtained from the first pressing of grated mature coconut

Kalabasa – Pumpkin or Squash

Kangkong – Water Spinach or Swamp Cabbage

Kamias - bilimbi, green acidic fruit from the cucumber tree used for souring dishes

Kamatis – Tomato

Kambing - Goat

Kamote – Sweet potatoes or Yam

Kamoteng Kahoy – Cassava or Yuca root

Kangkong - morning glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach

Kaong - sugar palm seed

Kesong puti - white cheese made from carabao or water buffalo milk

Kinchay / Kintsay – Celery or Chinese Leeks

Kinilaw - cooked by steeping in vinegar

Kutsay – Leeks

Labanos – long white cylindrical radish native to Asia – Daikon

Labong – Bamboo shoots

Langka – Jackfruit

Latik - coconut curd, the brownish residue obtained after oil is extracted from boiled coconut milk

Laurel leaf – Bay leaf

Lechon - roast meat usually spit-roasted

Lechon manok - roast chicken

Lechon sauce - sauce served with roast pork made of finely ground pork liver

Librilyo - ox tripe

Lomo – Beef loin

Lumpia - spring roll

Lumpia wrapper - crepe usually made of rice flour to wrap spring roll with

Luya – Ginger

Macapuno - coconut sport, a variety of coconut that has soft fleshy meat when ripe

Malagkit - sticky rice, glutinous rice

Malunggay leaves – Horseradish leaves

Manok – Chicken

Miki – Egg noodles

Miso - fermented soybean paste

Misua or Miswa – Vermicelli noodles

Misu – Soybean paste

Mongo – Mung beans

Mustasa – Mustard

Nata de coco - coconut gel usually packed in heavy syrup

Niyog -  Mature coconut

Pansit or Pancit – Noodles

Pancit molo - wonton soup that originated from Molo, Iloilo, a town in the Visayas region, Panay island in the central Philippines

Paminta – Peppercorns (Black pepper is the dried unripe berries and white pepper (ground) is from the ripe berries of the same pepper vine)

Patani – Lima beans

p\Pandan - fragrant screw-pine

Pastel - pot pie

Pata - animal trotter

Patatas – Potatoes

Patis - Fish sauce

Patola – Zucchini

Pechay / Petsay – Bok-choi, Bok-choy, Chinese cabbage

Pesa - stewed in ginger, garlic, and onion

Pigue - pork rump

Pimiento – A red pepper typically found in pickled version

Pinipig - rice crispies, immature rice, roasted and pounded until the grains are flattened

Pipino – Cucumber

Pusit – Squid or Calamari

Queso de bola - edam cheese shaped like a ball and imported from Holland

Repolyo – Cabbage

Saba - cooking banana variety

Sago - starch from the pith of the sago plant processed into flour, meal or pearl-like globes, tapioca pearls

Sampalok – Tamarind

Sayote – Chayote, a kind of tropical squash

Saluyot – Jute

Shrimp juice - juice from heads and shells of shrimps extracted by pounding, adding a little water then straining

Siling labuyo - bird's eye chili

Siling pangsigang, siling haba - green finger pepper, long green chili that is mildly hot, literally chili for sour soup, long chili

Sinangag - fried garlic rice

Singkamas – Jicama or Turnip

Sitao or Sitaw – String beans or Yard-long bean

Sibuyas – Onions

Sigarilyas – Winged Beans

Siling Labuyo – “Thai peppers” or “Birds Eye Chili”- originated from Thailand (“Very Hot!”)

Siling Mahaba – Finger peppers

Sinigang powder - Instant powder with dried sour soup ingredients using tamarind, guava, or kamias as base

Sotanghon – Transparent bean noodles, also known as cellophane noodles

Sugpo – Giant tiger prawn

Ssuka - Vinegar made from sugarcane, coconut, or nipa juice

Sukang sinamak - Vinegar dip with garlic, ginger, and chili from Iloilo, Visayas region

Tadyang ng baka - Beef ribs

Tagiliran - Beef sirloin

Tahong - Mussels

Talaba – Oysters

Talong – Eggplant

Tambakol - tuna

Tanglad – Lemon grass

Tanguige - wahoo, mackerel

Tapa - beef jerky, processed beef slices flavored with garlic, salt, soy sauce, sometimes with sugar

Tausi – Black soy beans, salted and fermented.

Togue – Bean sprouts

Tokwa – Tofu

Torta - omelet

Toyo - soy sauce

Tulya – Freshwater clams

Ubod – Hearts of palm

Upo – Bottle gourd

Wansuy – Cilantro

Mga di-binagong pangalan – Unchanged names! :-)))

Asparagus

Broccoli

Carrots

Cauliflower

Okra

Papaya

Soya

***** IF YOU FIND ANY MISSING FROM THIS LIST PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH ME.

SALAMAT


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If you like this and other Filipino related topics, food,  humor and videos be sure to visit us on Facebook at Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene.

Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene promotes cultural diversity of Filipinos around the world uniting them thru humor, fun, food & traditions.  Hope  you visit our new Fan page.

Here is a link to visit us:  (You may need to copy and paste this link into your browser)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Daves-Filipino-Scene/159834104096974

Be sure to tell your friends.  We hope to see you there.

Salamat:-)))

-=-Dr. Dave-=
.

A Useful List of Acronyms and Abbreviations in the Philippines

A Useful List of Acronyms and Abbreviations in the Philippines

CATEGORY #1:  Geography


Geography

Geography is one area prone to acronyms. Many times, when a group of places is formed, instead of coining a descriptive term for the group, an acronym that stands for the individual places is created.

An example outside the Philippines is Benelux, which stands for the countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

A premiere example in the Philippines is Luzviminda. This is an acronym that stands for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three island groupings of the country. Luzviminda is actually used as a name for many Filipino women.

Another example in the Philippines is the region CALABARZON. This is a region consisting of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

CALABARZON was split off from the former Southern Tagalog region in 2002. The region containing the remaining provinces in Southern Tagalog is also named as an acronym, MIMAROPA, which stands for the provinces of Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

A last example is CAMANAVA, which stands for Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, and Valenzuela City—all of which are located in Metro Manila.


    APEC - Asia-Pacific Economical Cooperation

    Namfrel - National Movement For Free Election

    BEI's - Board of Election Inspectors

    PPCRV - Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting

    CVC - Civil Service Commission

    DOH - Department Of Health

    BUDA - Bukidnon-Davao

    CAR - Cordillera Administrative Region

    CALABARZON - Region; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon

    CAMANAVA - Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, Valenzuela City (Northwestern Metro Manila)

    ComVal - Compostela Valley, province

    EDSA - Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, major circumferential road (C-4) in Metro Manila

    GenSan - General Santos City

    GK - Gawad Kalinga, which is Building Communities to End Poverty   

    IC - Iligan City

    IGaCoS - Island Garden City of Samal

    LP* - Las Piñas City

    Luzviminda - Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao

    MIMAROPA - Region; Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan

    MisOr - Misamis Oriental

    MUNTIPARLAS - Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City (southern Metro Manila)

    MUNTAPAT - Muntinlupa City, Taguig, Pateros (southeastern Metro Manila)

    NCR - National Capital Region (Metro Manila)

    NegOcc - Negros Occidental, province

    NegOr - Negros Oriental, province

    SOCCSKSARGEN - Region; South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City

    VisMin - Visayas, Mindanao

    CDO - Cagayan De Oro, Mindanao


CATEGORY #2:   Government Organizations/Institutions


    ACPC - Agricultural Credit Policy Council

    ADP - Agricultural Development Project

    AFC - Agriculture and Fishery Council

    ANGOC - Asian Nongovernmental Organizations Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    ARBs - Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries

    ARPCSS - Agrarian Reform Provincial Committee for Support Service

    ARRD - Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    ARTs - Agrarian Reform Technicians

    ASDAR - Association of Social Development Agencies

    BAEX - Bureau of Agricultural Extension

    BARBD - Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development

    BARCs - Barangay Agrarian Reform Councils

    BARIE - Bureau of Agrarian Information and Education

    BFAR** - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

    BFAR-NIFTDC** - BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries and Technology Development Center

    BI** - Bureau of Immigration

    BIR** - Bureau of Internal Revenue

    CARE - Coastal Area Resource and Enterprise

    CARP - Comprehensive Agrarian

    CCPAP - Coordinating Committee on the Philippine Assistance Program

    CENRO - Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer

    CHED** - Commission on Higher Education

    CIPS - Community Information and Planning Systems

    CLOAs - Certificate of Land Ownership Awards

    COs - Community Organizers

    COA** - Commission on Audit

    COMELEC** - Commission on Elections

    CPAR - Congress for a People’s Congress Reform

    CRTD - Center for Rural Technology Development

    CUs - Colleges and Universities

    CUP - Cooperative Union of the Philippines

    DA - Department of Agriculture

    DAP - Development Academy of the Philippines

    DAR - Department of Agrarian Reform

    DARAB - Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudicatory Board

    DBM - Department of Budget and Management

    DENR - Department of Environment and Natural Resources

    DFA - Department of Foreign Affairs

    DOH - Department of Health

    DECS** - Department of Education, Culture and Sports (defunct)

    DepEd** - Department of Education

    DOLE** - Department of Labor and Employment

    DOST** - Department of Science and Technology

    DOST-SEI - DOST-Science Education Institute

    DOST-TAPI - DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute

    DOT  = Dept Of Tourism (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    DSF - Department of Social Forestry

    DTI - Department of Trade and Industry

    ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

    ESDF - Eastern Samar Development Foundation, Inc.

    FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization

    FCDEP - Farmers Cooperative Development Exchange Program

    FEP - Farmer Exchange Program

    FSDC - Farm System Development Corporation

    GO - Government

    HARIBON - Haribon Foundation for Conservation of Natural Resources

    IAS - Inter-Agency Secretariat

    IDP - Institutional Development Project

    IESAM - Institute of Environmental Science and Management

    IGP - Income Generating Project

    ILO - International Labour Organization

    IPC - Institute of Philippine Culture

    IRF - Integrated Rural Financing

    ISFP - Integrated Social Forestry Program

    JC - Joint Committee

    LEAD - Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development

    LGUs - Local Government Units

    LIS - Local Implementing Structures

    LTO = Land Transportation Office (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    MAFC - Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council

    MAP - Management Association of the Philippines

    MAROs - Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers

    MASS-SPECC - Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Societies, Inc.-Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center

    MDC - Mindanao Development Center

    MINCARRD - Mindanao Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and Rural Development

    MTAP - Management Training and Assistance Program

    MTPDP - Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan

    NACFAR - Nationwide Coalition of Fisherfolks for Aquatic Reform

    NAFC - National Agricultural and Fishery Council

    NAMRIA - National Mapping and Resource Information Authority

    NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation

    NEDA** - National Economic and Development Authority

    NFRDI** - National Fisheries Research Development Institute

    NGO - Nongovernment Organization

    NIA - National Irrigation Authority

    NMC - National Management Committee

    NROs - NEDA Regional Offices

    OD - Outreach Desk

    ODA - Official Development Assistance

    ODISCO - Organic, Diversified, Integrated, Scientific Cooperative

    OLT - Operation Land Transfer

    OTRADEV - Organization for Training Research and Development Foundation, Inc

    PACAP - Philippine Australian Community Assistance Program

    PAFC - Provincial Agricultural and Fisheries Council

    PAFID - Philippine Association for Intercultural Development

    PAGASA** - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

    PAKISAMA - Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka

    PAOCTF** - Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force

    PARC - Presidential Agrarian Reform Council

    PARCCOM - Provincial Agrarian Reform Committee

    PARCODE - People’s Agrarian Reform Code

    PARD - Presidential Adviser on Rural Development

    PBSP - Philippine Business for Social Progress

    PCO - Project Coordinating Office

    PDAP - Philippine Development Assistance Program

    PDC - Provincial Development Council

    PENRO - Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer

    PHILDHRRA - Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas  

    Phivolcs - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

    PLFI - People’s Livelihood Foundation, Inc.

    PMC - Provincial Management Committee

    PMEB - Pre-Membership Education Seminar

    PMS - Presidential Management Staff

    PMS - Project Management Service

    PNP = Philippine National Police (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    PNPHP = PNP Highway Patrol (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    PO - People’s Organization

    PPO - Planning and Policy Office

    PROCESS - Participatory Research, Organization of Communities, and Education Towards Struggle for Self-Reliance

    PSALM** - Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation

    RAFC - Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council

    RDC - Regional Development Council

    SDC - Social Development Committee

    SDMI - Social Development Management Institute

    SDS - Social Development Staff

    SFO - Small Farmers Organization

    SIART - Summer Institute on Agrarian Reform

    SOPs - Standard Operating Procedures

    SSO - Support Services Office

    TAC - TRIPARRD Advisory Committee

    TC - Technical Committee 

    TCP - Technical Cooperation Project

    TESDA - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

    TMO = Traffic Management Office(r) (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    TRIPARRD - Tripartite Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    UDWG - Upland Development Working Group

    UNAC - Upland NGO Assistance Committee

    UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

    VICTO - Visayas Cooperative Development Center, Inc.

    VOS - Voluntary Offer to Sell

    WCARRD - World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    WESM - Wholesale Electricity Spot Market

    WWF - World Wildlife Fund


CATEGORY #3:   Political Parties


    BAYAN - Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance)

    KAMPI - Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino

    Lakas-CMD** - Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats

    LAMMP - Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (Struggle of the Patriotic Filipino Masses)

    PROMDI - Probinsya Muna Development Initiative

    STAND-UP - Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP

    UNIDO - United Nationalist Democratic Organization

    TNB - Tupa NG Betlahem



CATEGORY #4:   Companies and Commerce

    CAPECO - CApiz Electric COmpany, (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    CEBECO = Cebu Electric Cooperative.  (Submitted by Bubblez McArdle)

    CEPALCO - Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company

    GEM TV** - TV media company; stands for Global Expansion Media

    iBank - International Exchange Bank

    Meralco - Manila Electric Railway Company

    NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation

    NOCECO - Negros OCcidental Electric COmpany; (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    NORECO - Negros ORiental Electric COmpany; (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    PAL - Philippine Airlines

    PBCom** - Philippine Bank of Communications

    PENELCO -  Peninsula Electric Cooperative (electric utility in Bataan Peninsula) (Submitted by Jonathan Magalong)

    Piltel - Pilipino Telephone

    Philtranco - Philippine Transportation Corporation

    PLDT - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company

    PSBank** - Philippine Savings Bank

    VECO - Visayan Electric Company

  CATEGORY #5:   Educational institutions

    ADC -Academia de Davao College

    AMACU - AMA Computer University

    FEU-FERN - Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation

    CalSci** - Caloocan City Science High School

    MandSci* - Mandaluyong Science High School

    MariSci* - Marikina Science High School

    MaSci** - Manila Science High School

    MakSci** - Makati Science High School

    NAST - National Academy of Science and Technology

    NOCSU = Negros Occidental State University (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    NORSU = Negros Oriental State University (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    ParSci** - Parañaque Science High School

    PhilSci** - Philippine Science High School

    RCC** - [[Republic Central Colleges] ]

    Quesci** - Quezon City Science High School

    SIC** - Santa Isabel College

    SIMAN = Silliman University (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    UP** - University of the Philippines

    UPLB - University of the Philippines at Los Baños

    U.P. - University of the Philippines

    XU** - Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan

    TUP** -  Technological University of the Philippines

    PASCIE - Pasay City Science High School

    PUP - Polytechnic University of the Philippines

    MONSAY - Ramon Magsaysay High School

    SCS - Spring Christian School

    MUNSCI - Muntinlupa Science High School

    PLM - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

    PLMUN - Pamantasan Lungsod ng Muntinlupa

    LPU - Lyceum of the Philippines University

    CvSU - Cavite State University

    AmBriMed -American British Medical Skills Institution

    SPCF -Systems Plus College Foundation

    JCPRI - John Clark P. Reyes Institute

    RYAC - Rolex Y. Alejandre Corporation

    EJYSU - Emil John y. Sunga University

    CATEGORY #6: Registered Charitable Organizations:


 GWG - Give With Grace Charitable Organization, Inc.(Submitted by Wondrous Paradise)


CATEGORY #7:  Miscellaneous


    NAMFREL - National Movement for Free Elections

    HUKBALAHAP - Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People's Army Against the Japanese)

    MILF - Moro Islamic Liberation Front

    BLISS - Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Service

    PCAC - Presidents Action Committee on Axial Currents

    RAM - Reform the AFP Movement (Tagalog) - Rebolusyong Aksyong Makabayan

    MOA - Mall of Asia



*************
What are Acronyms ?

 Acronyms are phrases or words that have been shortened to initial letters and that, when spoken aloud, are pronounced as a word, rather than as individual letters: as in the following examples:



AWOL (AY-wahl). Absent Without Official Leave.
CAT scan. Computerized Axial Tomography.
Scuba [first initial capitalization only]. Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
SWAT. Special Weapons And Tactics.

What are Abbreviations ?

  Abbreviations are phrases or words that have been shortened to their initial letters and that, when spoken aloud, are pronounced as individual letters as in the following examples:


  
NYPD. New York Police Department.
OTC. Over The Counter.

So, when is an “acronym” not an acronym?

When someone is using it as a misnomer for “abbreviation.”.

*****************

IF THERE ARE ANY ACRONYMS MISSING FROM THIS LIST

DID I MISS ANY?  IF SO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE ACRONYM,
WHAT CATEGORY IT BELONGS IN ON THIS LIST AND WHAT THE
ACRONYM MEANS AND I WILL ADD IT.

Salamat,
Dr. Dave

*****************

 If you like this and other Filipino related topics, food,  humor and videos be sure to visit us on Facebook at

 Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene. Here is a link to visit us:  (You may need to copy and paste this link into your browser)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Daves-Filipino-Scene/159834104096974

Be sure to tell your friends.  We hope to see you there.

Salamat:-)))
-=-Dr. Dave-=

 

Eating balut the first time...Balut is not really an egg and not really duck, but somewhere in between by Dr. Dave!

Eating balut the first time...Balut is not really an egg and not really duck, but somewhere in between! by Dr. Dave

This was the day I finally ate balut. 

Nick Helm (the Food Truck Junkie), Brian Webb and I along with a one other ate BALUT for the first time in front of a television audience.  As both, the Eat St. TV crew (Canadian Food Network) and Taryn Rosenbalm Jeffries  (writer for Phoenix Bites) were filming our Balut eating experience.

For those not familiar with balut.   Balut is not really an egg and not really duck, but somewhere in between!

Balut are fertilized duck eggs that are at the stage of development where there is a nearly developed embryo inside. 

Now doesn't that description make you want to run out to the Hey Joe Filipino Food Truck and get one for yourself?

Of all the Filipino foods I have experienced over the last 20 years, I think balut might just be the yuckiest looking of them all.

When I first attempted to eat balut, over 20 years ago, I just could not get it past my lips and into my mouth.  Today was different.

Although I have no hesitation when it comes to eating eggs, ducks or chicken, balut just pushes all of the ‘eww’ buttons in my brain.

Before eating ... the balut eggs are boiled like a traditional hard boiled egg.  And when it actually came down to eating it the balut was like eating a hard boiled egg.  Well sort of.

 

 Brian described that we break open the larger side of the egg shell. I sprinkled a little salt on top followed by a little spicy vinegar.  Then we each drank the juice inside first.

So far so good.  Not too bad.

Then, after the camera crew took lots of pics, revealing the duck fetus inside... Then we ate the rest.

Thinking back to that experience...

Although I know I removed all of the shell before eating it.  When I put it into my mouth it felt as if there was still a little piece of the shell still there.  That being said I must assume what I felt inside my mouth was the duckbill.

I am curious as to what all of our faces looked like, on camera, as we put this into our mouth.  We will just have to wait until it shows on tv to know for sure.

No longer do we have to wait to see our faces as Taryn Rosenbalm Jeffries writer for Phoenix Bites video taped the television crew filming us.  She shared her video of the experience with us.  Here is a link to her video.


Link to her video on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151061516087222&set=vb.814672221&type=2&theater&notif_t=video_comment_tagged




This describes my Balut eating experience.

-=-Dr. Dave-=-



***Taryn Rosenbalm Jeffries -=- Thanks for sharing this video with us *** 

                                                               The above pic shared with us by Phoenix Bites.


Here you can see the back of the girl from Eat Street Food Network in Canada filming us.



Be sure to visit the following website/Facebook Pages.

Hey Joe Filipino Food Truck

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hey-Joe-Truck/171382589570245
Website:http://HeyJoeTruck.com
Email:  Brian@HeyJoeTruck.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/HeyJoeTruck


Food Truck Junkie

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FoodTruckJunkie
Website: http://www.thefoodtruckjunkie.com/
Email:  foodtruckjunkie@hotmail.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/foodtruckjunkie


Eat Street Tv Show -=- Schedule Tuesdays on Cooking Channel US (8pm) / Fridays on Food Network Canada (9pm)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EatSt
Website: http://eatst.foodnetwork.ca/

Phoenix Bites:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PhoenixBites
Website: http://www.PhoenixBites.com
Email: info@phoenixbites.com
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/PhoenixBites

Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene. 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Daves-Filipino-Scene/159834104096974
 Email:  Filipino.Scene@yahoo.com
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/FilipinoScene1

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