Expanding My Palate

While in the Philippines, I have had the opportunity to try a wide range of new foods. Some delicious, some bad, and some were interesting. For this post, I will share 3 of the most “interesting” foods I have tried.

Balut – It appears more like a scientific specimen than a snack. The common Filipino street food is a fertilized duck egg with an embryo around two to three weeks old. Its similar to an egg, a food I enjoy, so I figured might as well give it a try. When peeling away the shell to reveal the chick embryo, head feathers and all, I realized I might have gotten myself in over my head. I decided to heavily season the egg with salt, open my mouth and see what happens. Besides the odd texture from the beak and feathers, it had a very similar taste and aroma to a hardboiled egg. Not my new favorite but better than expected.

Crocodile – When visiting the island of Palawan, I had the chance to try crocodile meat. One of the two foods I wanted to try while visiting the island. The other was Nido soup, which is a soup utilizing the saliva from native birds, however, it was harder to find than anticipated. Crocodile meat was very similar to chicken in appearance and taste, however, it is a bit tougher. I had it served as sisig (my favorite) mixed with pineapple and chilis to mix in a complexity of sweet and spicy. 

Octopus and Seaweed – While traveling for work, I had a family-style lunch with members of the staff from the DOST Regional Office in Cebu. Among traditional Filipino dishes of curry and adobo, there were two foods which I had never tried before, octopus and seaweed (Sea Grapes). In the interest of trying as many new foods as possible, I added both to my plate. Octopus can look a bit intimidating with its large tentacles, but I found the taste and consistency to be similar to squid, just size multiplied by 10. The sea grapes look, as suggested, like a tiny vine of grapes with each bulb about the size of a tiny fish egg. The dish took on the flavor of the onions they were cooked in and the sea grapes themselves didn’t have much flavor, but the texture was unique in that each bulb burst when it was chewed. 

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Science for the People

Science For the People was the theme at this year’s National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), which is a series of conventions held throughout the country highlighting the activities of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). I participated as an exhibitor on behalf of FNRI, which was presenting their developments as part of the STI@Home exhibit, but I also got a chance to go around and see the other science and technology activities of the DOST.

Of the numerous exhibits, what stuck out to me the most was a promising sustainable fuel technology. A scientist at the DOST has created an initial prototype for fueling vehicles using saltwater. Though this initial prototype is only the size of a Hotwheels toy, it can run for up to 4 hours on just a drop of saltwater. It works by placing saltwater between two metal plates, which then react to power a small motor. Though the DOST is currently working on scaling it, the exhibitor said they believe it can be replicated full size using 3-5 liters of water. I found this incredibly intriguing, as this technology could have a worldwide impact in upcoming years as fossil fuels become more scarce and people begin to favor clean energy sources.

The NSTW was a great way to experience the other branches of the DOST. I have worked inside the FNRI for enough time now that I am starting to understand the impact that their food technologies are having on the Filipino people, but it was interesting to learn how the other agencies are using science and technology to address issues like transportation, disaster relief, and sustainable agriculture.  

 

Basketball Culture

When I tell a Filipino I am from Chicago, I often hear responses like “Chicago Bulls” or “Michael Jordan”. I had heard that the sport of basketball is part of the culture from Filipino friends at home (shout out to high school basketball teammates Karl Siron and Justin Daoey) but I had no idea how ingrained it was.

I’ve seen the influence of basketball everywhere. Kids wear Warriors and Cavs jerseys, Steph Curry’s face is popularized by a cell phone add displayed throughout Manila, and, no matter the heat, outdoor hoops are active. I was also told that a majority of the Filipino people are fans of the Philadelphia 76rs, Boston Celtics, or the Los Angeles Lakers because, for the longest time, those were the only teams who had their games broadcasted on Filipino televisions.

Being of IWU intramural basketball glory and a former high school player, I got the urge to play. I took my chance on a Sunday when the crowd around my apartment court was dwindling down. I jumped in on a game that varied in age from a 12-year boy to a man in his 40’s. Though I typically play a guard or small forward position in the states, In the Philippines, I’m a towering (also big bodied) center. All it took was a 20-hour plane ride.

Since then I have been invited back a few times and eventually added to the “Sienna Park Basketball Club” facebook group (of which the posts are in Tagalog so it takes some time on google translate to decipher). Though work often gets in the way, playing as often as I can has been a great way to meet and converse with the people whose community I am visiting (and also learn a few Tagalog curse words). Sports connect cultures and no matter people’s background, when they play, there is a sense of comradery.

 

My “Pinggang Pinoy” of Filipino Foods

One of the biggest promotional efforts coming out of FNRI is the Pinggang Pinoy. To put it into U.S. perspective, it’s similar to my plate. The promotion is meant to encourage a diversity of foods on the plates of Filipinos so that meals fill the body’s nutritional requirements. The Pinggang Pinoy is presented as a dinner plate visual divided into food categories. The three are Grow (protein sources) Go (Carbohydrates) and Glow (Fruits and vegetables). To spin this idea for the purpose of my blog I am giving my “Pinggang Pinoy” of favorite Filipino foods by choosing my favorite from each category.

Grow – This was the toughest, but its gonna go to Pork Sisig. Sisig isn’t the healthiest so it wouldn’t be suggested for Pinggang Pinoy (Its high in fat and cholesterol), but I will say it fits into the category of grow since its a protein source. Pork sisig is made from pig’s head finely chopped, grilled and served on a sizzling skillet with onions and peppers. The finishing touch comes when a raw egg is cracked on top right before the dish is served. The diner then mixes the egg into the sizzling meat so the egg can begin to cook within the piping hot ingredients. I prefer it seasoned with chili and calamansi to add some additional spice and acidity.

Go – I’m going with a seemingly plain option. White Rice. I have eaten rice as part of my diet at home, but in the Philippines, I have increased my rice intake tenfold. It may not be the most delectable, but it wins my GO category for being a consistent staple. It has even ended up a part of my breakfast considering it pairs well with longanisa (Filipino sausage).

Glow – For glow I will make one pick for both fruits and vegetables. For the fruit, I’m going with the ripe mango. In the Philippines, people also eat unripe mango but those have the crisp crunch of an apple and are seasoned with salt and vinegar to tame the intense sour taste. The ripe mango, in contrast, is sweet, succulent and juicy. For the vegetable, my pick is a dish called Laing. Maybe my favorite of all Filipino ethnic foods, Laing is a dish made from Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk and spiced with Thai chili. Though some variations add different ingredients, those three are the base of this dish. Made famous in Bicol, an area in the south of Luzon, the dish is well known throughout the country because of its simple ingredients are found fresh locally at low cost.

Honorable mentions include pancit canton, pancit malabon, fried milkfish, anything buko, halo halo, chicken from Mang Inasal and pandesal.

 

44th FSS Takeaway

My last two weeks at FNRI were focused around the preparation and attendance of the 44th Food and Nutrition Seminar Series. The seminar series was an opportunity for various stakeholders in the public nutrition of the Philippines to gather and listen to keynote speakers and technical presentations relating to everything from correlation studies to the nutritional makeup of commonly consumed foods.

The seminar was an overwhelming amount of information, some of which was hard to understand for me since I don’t have knowledge relating to the various geographical regions or cultural practices of the country. Other parts were hard to understand because they were spoken in “Taglish” (a mix of Tagalog and English). However, there was one major takeaway for me. In not only the Philippines and the United States, but in every country around the world, an overwhelming amount of deaths are caused by lifestyle-related diseases. The different types of lifestyle-related diseases are numerous but it shows one common thing and that is people can make lifestyle changes to prevent the onset of these diseases.

Another shocking thing is that, for the most part, we have the collective knowledge to avoid these lifestyle-related diseases, however, they are still prevalent. From this, I made a connection to behavioral economics which is a field of interest for me. Behavioral economics is the study of how individuals make decisions. Topics related to incrementalism, that is making small incremental changes that add up to have a big impact over time, is a topic often discussed by behavioral economists. Research shows that humans aren’t good at incrementalism. This isn’t all that surprising when things like climate change are considered, but it does bring about a very important question. Since sometimes education isn’t always enough, How can we change this behavior?

Puerto Galera

After a long week of working overtime and attending the 44th Food and Nutrition Seminar Series, six fellow IWU Freeman Asia Interns and I decided to make a slightly longer distance trip to Puerto Galera. A popular beach destination on the Island of Mindoro, Puerto Galera is a known getaway for those in Metro Manila due to its stunning views and white sand beaches. The trip included an early morning travel by Bus, Ferry, Jeepney, and Tricycle but we eventually made it.

Immediately upon getting off near White Beach, we were bombarded with people trying to sell us everything from trinkets to parasailing packages. Some of the merchants would continue to follow us for long periods including one who stalked us during breakfast. We decided to take up one merchant on an island hopping and snorkeling tour which showed us some of the remote beaches and also an up-close view of a coral reef.

Now for the last portion of this blog post, I am going to shift and share both the positive and negative takeaways from the trip. I have come to realize that traveling isn’t always the 24/7 adventure that others make it out to be on the internet and social media so I thought I would start adding in some of the “misadventures” as well. Don’t get me wrong, the experience was overwhelmingly positive. I just believe the most accurate way of describing my experience in Asia should also share the frustrations.

First for the positives of the trip. I got to experience an amazing tropical island and escape the city for a weekend. There were often times while I was looking at the blue waters and the lush green cliffs where I felt like pinching myself. Also, I got to go snorkeling for the first time and see a coral reef.

Now for the negatives. I was continually harassed by people trying to sell things. It became almost infuriating and I couldn’t walk a few feet down the beachfront without being solicited by a handful of people. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the ferry ride back to Batangas Port. I figured something was off when they let all 500 boat passengers onto the ferry in a single stampede without checking tickets, but the problem became more apparent as we had waited almost an hour and the ferry hadn’t left the dock. After the boat workers argued with each other, they continued to call everyone off the boat and have us all wait on the dock (in the rain) while they would call attendance one by one. This was an extremely unorganized process and eventually resulted in another stampede. We finally left the port around 2 hours past our originally scheduled departure time.

 

Play Hard, Work Harder

 

Pictures from previous blog posts may suggest that my time in the Philippines has been a vacation, however, It’s quite the contrary. Though I’ve planned weekend excursions to see as much of the country as possible, the weekdays (and sometimes weekends) are an 8 to 5 grind. I say sometimes weekends since I will work overtime this weekend to prepare for the upcoming Food and Nutrition Seminar Series (July 4th-July 6th).

For my first work assignment, I am helping to draft a comprehensive list of the food technologies developed by the FNRI along with a brief summary of each product. I discuss everything from the health need the technology was created to address, to the market potential of the product. The goal is to create a single resource that is short and easy to read but also comprehensive and informative so that potential business partners can learn about the products of the FNRI for potential licensing agreements. In creating this compendium, My fellow intern and I are tasked with showing off the technologies with a design that fits the FNRI brand.

Though Tagalog is the language spoken by the Filipino people in daily conversation, English is the language of business. Therefore, I am well suited for this task. I have used writing and editing skills from both my professors at Illinois Wesleyan University and teachers back in Mundelein High School. My business-related courses, especially marketing, have allowed me to use language within my writing to highlight the demand and market potential for the products and technologies, while my liberal arts education has allowed me to be well versed in the crafting of pros, development of sentence structure and the scientific knowledge of the nutritional data I am analyzing.

 

Pagsanjan Falls

This weekend featured a one-day excursion to Pagsanjan Falls. Just a few hours away from Manila, this waterfall is a tucked away treasure. Our Guides traversed our small wooden canoe upstream for 45 minutes through a river banked with steep cliffs and stunning views. At the end was a roaring waterfall that plunged into a large pool. Since the rush of other tourists had yet to arrive, we got the special treatment and were taken beneath the falls to swim in devil’s cave, which was formed into the rock directly behind the waterfall. Overall a 10/10 experience. 

 

The Fault in FNRI

Shortly after returning to my desk from lunch, a large alert came over the loudspeaker at FNRI. The message, “evacuate the building immediately”. I was relieved to find out this was only part of a planned nationwide earthquake drill, but I was unsettled by the other information the drill unearthed.  

I was told by a coworker that the FNRI building was discovered to be situated on a fault line. I asked in response, “you mean like this area is on a fault line?” He replied, “no, actually it runs right down the center of our office.” He said this as he pointed to the ground about 10 or so feet in front of my assigned desk. In addition to that, I was also informed of a predicted earthquake known as “the big one.” It’s currently overdue. Fingers crossed it stays that way.