Filipino people loves eating. A typical man would usually eat 3 times a day but Filipinos eat more than 3 times. Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos love to have snacks. Snack in the morning, snack in the afternoon and a midnight snack for those who creep to the refrigerator late at night to fill in some empty space in their stomach.
In the back side of the alley, there are also Filipinos who struggle to find food. It's a sad truth that there are Filipinos who wait for some blessings behind restaurants. Most of them would ask money from passers by. Most of the time, these are kids whose parents also do the same in a different area. It's a sad picture with fading colors. If you look at it closely, It's not just a picture of them pressing their stomach. You are in the picture eating your favorite hamburger while throwing a half eaten spaghetti meal into the trash can.
I believe that this scenario is also true to other third world countries. Third world country indeed but Philippines is in some way a little different. The picture might be similar but when you look at the back, you can see that there are words written: "Oh! A leftover spaghetti. Call the others!"
[EATING HABITS]
It's natural for Filipinos to share. While eating or before starting to eat, it's common for a Filipino to invite the people around him to eat even though some are strangers. He doesn't care whether he have enough food for everybody as long as he didn't forget to share. "Kain tayo!"(Let's eat!) This is the most common phrase you will hear. And the best response to this is, "Sige busog pa'ko!"(Thanks but I'm not yet hungry!), while moving your hand in circle over your stomach to act like you are really full even if you're not. It's up to you to adjust if the person is really capable of sharing or not. If you think that he has a lot of food, then you can say, "Wow mukhang masarap 'yan, patikim"(Wow that looks delicious. May I have some?).
[HANDS]
About one-third of the world's population eat with bare hands. India alone comprises a huge part of it. Even though spoon, fork and chopstick users dominates Asia, countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Philippines consider hands as an eating utensil.
In the Philippines, it's a tradition to use spoon and fork for eating. Chopsticks are only for hair and knives are only for bread. But of course, we also consider other countries' culture, thus, chopsticks and knives are also available in selected restaurants. Even though spoons and forks are already part of our daily meals, it is still delicious to eat with bare hands.
"Masarap kumain kapag nagkakamay!"
Aside from the quoted message above which means, it's delicious to eat with bare hands, there's another thing that makes eating delicious for Filipinos--raising one foot on the chair. I don't know why it's good to eat like that. Filipinos know about table manners but some can't help it if they are in their own homes. It's already a part of eating by hands. Raise one foot on your chair. Support your elbow by your knee. Then move your hand like a crane that moves rice from your plate to your mouth.
[RICE]
When I was a little kid, I asked my mom. "Why do rabbits always eat carrots?" She answered me with another question. "Why do you always eat rice?" The question puzzled me. I said, "Why?" She said, "If you will not eat rice, you might eat all the food in our refrigerator in no time." It makes sense.
Filipinos love to eat as I've said earlier. They are not satisfied with bread alone or with viands alone. Rice is an important part of a Filipino dish. Most of Filipino delicacies were made to be partnered to rice.
[VISITORS]
It's normal for Filipino families to offer food to their visitors. If you arrive in the morning, you should eat lunch with them. If you arrive in the afternoon, they will prepare afternoon snacks and drinks. You don't have a choice but to eat. In the evening, they will ask you, "Did you have dinner already?" If you answer no, the food will be automatically prepared. If you arrived while they're eating, they will get another plate and force you to eat in a kind manner. What ever time you arrive, food will always be available for you even though it's tomorrow's budget or it's a credit from the neighbor's store.
[V.I.P.]
Visitors are really special whether you are a Filipino or not. When Filipinos have visitors, that will be the only time that they will use their most elegant plates and utensils. Also expect that they will ask the children to go to a different part of the house so that you will not be annoyed. They will ask you to eat before everyone together with the one you visited and sometimes with the primary members of the family(the older ones). Kids will eat in a different place or will eat later.
Normally, if the family doesn't expect any visitor, they just cook the amount of food that will fit for them. So if you came a little late and they already started cooking, you will be asked to eat first and they will cook again for them or for the children in the living room. Don't worry, they are not that hungry as you think. For sure they had some snacks. They're Filipinos. Just it normally and enjoy the food they willingly served to you. By the time you finished eating and moved to the living room, little will start digging the kitchen for some carrots.
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