changing seasons

We don’t have fairs that showcased the biggest “thingy” in the Philippines or at least none that I know of. Or maybe there are in some provinces or far-flung barrios, I just don’t know about it. The Philippines if you would look at it in the map is a small archipelago though it is composed of 7,107 islands. There are 3 major big islands, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I live in the biggest island which is Luzon and yet I have not been to all of the provinces in the entire island. That is why my idea of what is going on in my country is very limited to what I see in TV or magazine.

Rice Farming in the Philippines. [Photo credit: United Nations Photos]

The Philippines is an agricultural country too and rice used to be our major produce before industrialization and commercialization took over the once abundant and verdant countryside. We grow rice in terraced rice paddies. We plant them by traditional method of farming – the farmer and his carabao [water buffalo, Philippines National Animal]. And we harvest them by hand and sickle. We still have some rice paddies in our hometown but produce from those paddies are usually for personal use of the family who owns them. The famous Banaue Rice Terraces of the Mountain Province is now just a famous landmark [and declared as UNESCO World Heritage site] that depicts more of our Filipino Heritage and not a source of livelihood.

Kakanin or Filipino Delicacies made out of rice.

SUMAN… the most famous delicacies made of sticky rice. Usually eaten dipped in hot cocoa or plain sugar.

ESPASOL… made out of sticky rice and grated coconut meat. It is most popularly called in our town as Minukmok.

PALITAW… usually eaten with grated fresh young coconut and sugar with roasted sesame seeds.

BICO… made of steamed sticky rice and cooked in caramelized brown sugar. Most popularly called in our town as Sinukmani.

Rice is the staple of the Filipino table. We eat rice at least 3 times a day and even snack on it. I know we cannot live without rice. But since we are now importing rice from neighboring countries [that used to import rice from us years ago], a lot of Filipino families are affected by the price hike. According to my friend back home, they even have to fall in line just to buy rice because of rice shortage. Being a third-world country, we are not spared to feel the crunch of the economic catastrophe that our more affluent counterparts are experiencing.

Different kinds of Filipino Delicacies called PUTO which is made out of Rice.

Puto Kutsinta

Puto Cupcakes

Puto Alsa

I miss rice though I am not a regular rice-eater back home. I cut down on my rice intake a long time ago for dietary reasons. But now that I am here in Maine, I would usually have a Saturday craving for rice. Good thing I don’t have to wait in line just to get my share. Rice is very much available in the local groceries here and I can get it anytime from my favorite Chinese Restaurants too.

Fried Rice… one of the best way to prepare left-over rice.

But then, maybe the reason why I miss rice now is not the taste but the tradition that I grew up with and the culture that I was brought up. Suffice it to say… I miss the Philippines. And I can only relive those special moments I had in my country by eating rice. It is my comfort food. Now, I am hungry!

Additional Information:
Banaue Rice Terraces
International Rice Research Institute

Credits:
All food photos courtesy of my brother Japol who is a food junkie.