KDub In Philippines: Salamat Po! - To My University of Chicago Philippine Friends

Today I enjoyed a special hour with my husband's Philippine friends and colleagues from University of Chicago. We shared a Philippine lunch together, Michael, me, Contessa, Joanna, Rich (my husband) and Maria shared places, foods, ideas, stories, suggestions, information, on absolutely everything Philippine. I heard, 'You will never want to leave!" over and over with incredible passion and love for a beloved country, The Republic of Philippines.

My Take Away Includes:

1. Food is everything! tapsilog tap=beef/si=fried rice/log=egg. tocilog to=pork/ci=fried rice/log=egg, pancit=noodles and chicken and each are fabulous! Try mangoes cut in small cubes in the skin. Try Bulalo soup/bone marrow beef soup = the best and so good. Try the coconut drink! Try the calamensi juice (lemon) and lime juice on everything. Sugar cane is used in drinks and more instead of corn syrup. Coffee uses condensed milk....in fact much discussions on sweet condensed milk as a memory as children. And always the Halo-Halo! It will cool you!

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2. Maria brought sodas, mangos, lemon bars (made by her daughter) and arranged all and more for us - a gracious and wonderful woman. Each were amazingly informative and brilliant on all ideas on Philippines.

3. The Aeta community and their forced interaction with the local Filipinos due to the Mt Pinatubo eruption story was interesting to me.

The Aeta Tribal group was forced from their villages and had to interact with the rest of the Filipino population - an interaction they were not fully prepared for. They were confused by the clothes that were donated to them and the food that was donated to them. They were confused by the clothes by sometimes wearing inappropriate garments (men in gowns) and the food that was donated (totally unaware of the purpose of canned goods). After the volcano explosion, days were dark and ash everywhere for many days. So now, the story goes, not two seasons of sun and rain- but three, sun, rain and ash. See more info on the eruption of 1991. http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/pinatubo.htm

4. When going to Taal Lake be certain to get the Tawalis fish - they thrive only in Taal Lake and no where else in the world and are a fresh water fish. We as Fulbright recipients will be hiking at Taal Lake first week we are there.
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5. Tagalog - The word NG - The word NG has no direct translation and covers a broad range of meanings. NG is a marker and indicates that there is some type of relationship between the word that follows NG and another word(s) in the sentence. Michael demonstrated sound NG - perfectly!

6. Ride a Jeepney! Public transportation with a Filipino feel!

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7. Visit the malls - they are filled with many people and are cool! Buy long necklaces and pearls.
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8. Michael, Contessa, Joanna, and Maria pointed to the Philippine map - reporting the zone 1, 2, 3, 4, locations of parents, grandparents, where each were raised or a favorite vacation spot or beaches - 'sand like powder'. Each reported memories about the geckos, lizards in the house ceilings and the games played with spiders using matches as a child.