Taste of the Nation

The Philippines is known for having a very rich culture. it is characterized as diverse mixture of various nations that have occupied our country since the dawn of its civilization. Traditions of countries that invaded us such as Spain and America left a mark and made a great impact that have immense influences on different aspects of the Filipino culture.

Last February 12 to 15, the University of Santo Tomas allowed their partner communities to set up booths and sell locally made and small-scale produced products of the Philippines. Here are some of the products that I bought found interesting:

CHICHARON

Chicharon in Spanish means pork rinds crackling. Its origin is in Andalusia state of Spain. There are different kinds of chicharon in the Philippines. One of the most famous and frequently bought is the chicharon bilog. Chicharon bilog is a pork belly with thick and salty cut into pieces that you will enjoy eating with vinegar. This one is for those who want something fuller in each crunch. This kind of chicharon has a round shape and is made from pig skin. It can be served as finger food or appetizers.

According to my interview with the vendor at the Pistang Tomasino, Santa Maria, Bulacan is one of the best producers of chicharon. They are known for producing best chicharons because their agri-based industry is rich in poultry and they tend to focus more on raising pigs.

I think this is a trendy snack consumed by most of the Filipinos because it is in our culture that whenever we socialize, we socialize and bond with food or snacks. As mentioned above, another thing in our culture is bonding over drinks or we make drinking as a past time. When we Filipinos drink, there is always a "pulutan" (food eaten with alcohol or finger food) and chicharon is one of the most common snack eaten whenever we drink alcohol. Chicharon is also a trendy Filipino food because these crushed pork rinds are used as additional ingredients in many Philippines dishes, such as topping for pinakbet and noodle dishes like pancit palabok. Chicharon bilog can also be mixed with monggo soup, sprinkled with cheese or sour cream powder and mixed with barbecue sauce served with rice. There are a lot of recipes that can be discovered by experimenting with the variety of pork cracklings we Filipinos have.

SWEET CHICHACORN PUFFS

     A corn is a crop that can be cooked in different ways. Manufacturers can turn it into popcorn, chips or simply turn it into what people from the north of the Philippines commonly call as “cornick” or chichacorn. Chichacorn is from the combination of the two words “chicharon” and “corn”. It uses glutinous corn which is treated with lime before frying in a semi-popped style. The corn kernels are first boiled and then sundried, after that, it is deep friend to achieve a crispy and crunchy texture. The variety of corn used is the one from plants that are common in the Philippines. It is different from the yellow corn more familiar to the Westerners. The crop is most famous in the Ilocos region but this kind of corn also grows in surrounding provinces like La Union.

     

     When I asked the vendor about this product, she told me that she was not really sure about the origin of chichacorn. It is like a cornick from Ilocos but this one is softer and it can easily melt in your mouth when you chew it. Sweet corn chichacorn is a crisp fried crunchy corn with a sweet and creamy butter flavoring. It has a good crunchy texture but they are not actually hard in the same way. Chichacorn comes in three different flavors namely: sweet corn, barbecue and cheese.

     

     I think this product is a trend because it can be seen in mostly Filipino delicacies stores. It is one of the best-selling Filipino snacks because we even export it to other countries. Few eaters swear that homemade chichacorn from Ilocos is a lot better compared to what we all know as “Boy Bawang” which are factory-processed corn nuts because they are artificially flavored and unhealthy. Chichacorn is also a trend because it is very addictive and easy to pack and bring around as snacks.

TRADITIONAL BASKET

     The history of basket weaving in the Philippines goes way back centuries. Weaving has been an important part of the Filipino culture. Basket weaving originated in the mountainous northern part of the Philippine island of Luzon is referred to as the Cordillera Central. Basketry is their livelihood and formed an essential part of all aspects of daily life in this area. Baskets are made of bamboo, rattan or a combination of the two. The most frequents construction technique for basket weaving is plaiting but wickerwork, twining or coaling are also employed. In plaiting, two elements are woven over and under each other at a right angle. These entire woven basket pieces involve an innovative weaving technique that was passed down from generation to generation. Each basket takes an experience weaver roughly a day to complete. The people of the Cordillera region are known for their exceptional craftsmanship, creative and hardworking since basket weaving is a heavy work. It is a complex skill that requires technical and creative expertise. A weaver’s consistent work allows them to afford food, send their children to school and build better homes for their families.

     

     Baskets were a trend back then. They range in different forms and sizes. It became a trend because it was used as portable lunch containers, woven jars, winnowing trays, carrying basket that allowed the people of the Cordillera region to harvest, transport, store and serve food and crops. It also served as their protection because they have basketry hats and rain capes that they can use against the sun and rain. Baskets also helped in catching fish, shellfish and insects. It also served as containers like bags for personal items and for the food they would pack whenever they travel or where they would place the meat after a successful hunt.

     

     According to my research, the use of baskets in the region became less common during the 1950s. The use of containers made of materials such as plastic or aluminum were discovered. They now serve the same purpose as the traditional baskets. These replacements are affordable, easy to obtain, and often regarded as superior or practical. In the present, many traditional basket forms survive for the sole purpose of exhibits to entertain and satisfy the interest of tourists in Philippine crafts and artifacts. Weaved basket may not be commonly used in the present time but these handwoven baskets of our country is surely a product of tradition, resilience and passion.