Adapting to the Filipino culture

Foreigner living in the Philippines 

Photo by Eryka Rose Raton on Unsplash

I have travelled to many destinations, but what set the Philippines apart from the rest, is that my heart was here.

Coming here wasn't just a case of visiting another Asian country, but visiting the home of my partner. I never saw myself to be someone who is patriotic, but have come to learn just how proud filipinos are of their culture, their food, and their people.

Before visiting the Philippines, I have worked with Filipino's and have learned quite a lot about the culture and its people. I have learned of Filipinos to be respectful and supportive, so travelling here for the first time and meeting a new family, was met with great comfort and hospitality...In certain areas but, more on that later...

The Philippines and it's people soon crept deeper into my heart with their show of kindness and politeness.

Proud to showcase what the Philippines had to offer...a three week holiday became to short. However there was no rush, as I was certain to return on a regular basis.

A country so different from mine. Not only did I feel safe, but I felt free and I was gaining weight at a tremendous speed, as here rice are in abundance, and abundantly it began to cling to my waste. I never liked rice much, and grew up eating probably a palm sized serving once a week, maybe twice. Then I heard the saying, "no rice, no power".  I soon end up eating rice three times a day, servings bigger than my whole family all together.

I was meant to come here, I thought. Certain dishes were so close to what I favored in taste. Sweet, tangy tastes. On the downside however I am a big lover of red meat, steaks, and chops, and here it is probably the only thing you will pay an arm and a leg for, as food and vegetables are generally very cheap. I visited a second time under slightly different longer circumstances, however the third, caught me completely by surprise.

I entered the Philippines, the 3rd time around more than a year ago, by the nip at the heels.

The day I arrived was the day the lockdown was enforced. Now I do have those days that I tend to look at the glass half empty, but mostly, I think of it as half full.

Not only have I learned to consume a completely different diet, but I am learning a new language...Telaga.

Not only have I learned to eat different food, or am I learning a new language, but the time has come to don my apron and try my hand at Filipino cooking. 

The problem however is not the cooking but, being the partner of a wannabe Filipino Gordon Ramsey. Where nothing is ever just, but always too. Too salty...to sweet...too tough...

If you would like to join me on this journey of cooking Filipino dishes and mastering this task, then don't forget to subscribe in the side bar, so you can get the latest updates and find out what I will be cooking and what the feedback from a proud pure bred Filipino will be.

"It doesn't mean that because someone doesn't like it, that it is not good enough" Conray Guallar Blignault

To the market we go. I mean Palengke

a tricycle - quick short distance transport    The market we mostly visited walking distance from home