Of Cockfights and Adobo
by Bianca Garcia
© Bianca Garcia
This is an excerpt of an article I wrote for Offline Magazine (now shuttered down). I wanted to write about a controversial local tradition, and weave in stories about my family and food (of course). The entire piece is published on my blog.
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I stared at the gates outside the arena, gray and rusty, paint peeling off. The scorching sun was beating down on us, bright and relentless, and on the ground there were clouds of dirt being kicked around by the flip flops that everyone wears. There were sounds of children playing nearby. It was a typical provincial scene, grand and quaint at the same time. We shuffled to the entrance, and then we entered a different world.
We were at the cockfighting arena in San Fernando, Pampanga, a province in the Philippines. Dark, humid, loud and thumping, I could feel a frantic energy pulsing in the air. It was my first time going to see a cockfight, or “sabong” as it is called in Filipino. Cockfighting is a blood sport so violent that it’s outlawed in many other countries, but it has been part of Filipino culture for centuries.
In the Philippines, cockfighting is a great equalizer, where the rich and poor come together without any class distinctions. It is a community activity that brings neighbors together and ignites the bonding of the townsfolk’s men. A common joke among the wives is that the roosters are luckier than they are, because their husbands caress and lovingly massage the roosters first thing in the morning. Up until the 60s, when most parts of the country started becoming more urbanized, almost every backyard had chicken and rooster coops, with every family being invested in the sport of cockfighting.
To read the rest of the article, please head over to Confessions of a Chocoholic.
That's So Filipino - PART Dalawa (Two)
Welcome to our second segment of “That’s So Filipino”! Also, happy last full week of Filipino American History Month!
Today we’re going to talk about some important people that put the Philippines and Filipino talent in the spotlight.
Did you know these 10 Hollywood superstars and artists are either full or half Filipino?
Allan Pineda aka APL member of the Grammy-winning Black Eyed Peas.
Bruno Mars - Received five Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, one Guinness World Record, and was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2011.
Dave Bautista - MMA fighter, aka Drax from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy.
Enrique Iglesias - Grammy winner for Best Latin Pop Performance.
Hailee Steinfeld - Academy nominee and best known as Mattie Ross in the movie True Grit (2010).
Nicole Scherzinger - lead singer of the Grammy nominee girl group, the Pussycat Dolls.
Rachel Bilson - best known as Summer Roberts from the hit prime-time drama series, The O.C.
Shay Mitchell - best known as Emily Fields in the hit TV series Pretty Little Liars. She is a distant cousin of Lea Salonga, a Tony Award-winning theater actress best known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon.
Vanessa Hudgens - best known as Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series.
Vanessa Minnillo - Lachey - Miss Teen USA in 1998 and TV correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.
Yes, I am as surprised as you are with some of these. And just as thrilled!
Although these celebs may not necessarily be considered a part of Filipino American History, yet, one thing is for sure, they are certainly making history with their talents and incredible work!
Filipino American History Month 2017
Did you know that October is Filipino American History Month (FAHM)? While it was established by the Filipino American National Historical Society in 1988, it wasn’t officially recognized nationally by Congress until 2009.
As I started to work on a FAHM post for the blog, I found the AARP / NextDayBetter video that came out earlier this month. For a video that’s only 7 minutes long, it does an incredible job of highlighting Filipino American contributions and history dating back to 1587! Most of which, I must say, was not in any of my history books growing up in New Jersey.
Some new things I learned from the video (including links to learn more) were:
- Filipinos have been in what is now known as the continental United States since 1587 -
- Many FIlipinos first formed settlements in Louisiana (Saint Malo) - link
- Some Filipinos were at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair… on display - link
- Filipino towns such as Stockton’s Little Manila served as a safe haven for labor migrants who were accused of stealing jobs… and women - link
- The 1934 Congress restricted immigration from the Philippines to just 50 Filipinos per year - link
- During WWII - 250,000 Filipinos served in the United States Armed Forces of the Far East - link
- Filipino veterans in the Philippines were promised US citizenship and benefits, but the passing of the 1946 Rescission Act broke that promise - link
- At one point, there were more Filipinos in the US Navy than the Philippines Navy - link
- In 1965, the Immigration Act greatly expanded quotas (right around when my parents came to the US!), and by 1970 the Filipino community more than doubled. Population stats: 1930 - 45,000; 1970 - 343,00; 1980 - 774,000 - link
- There are now over 4,000,000 Filipinos in the United States, and that’s just an estimation from 2011 - link
And those are just a handful of the stats that are in the video!
To watch the video in its entirety, click below and let us know what you learned!
BOSFilipinos and Milagros Project Pop-Up Dinner Recap
by Bianca Garcia
My heart was beating fast, my hands were sweating, and I smelled like adobo. I glanced around the cozy space at Saus and saw my team whirring around: Trish was going over the floor plan and putting last minute touches on the dining tables, Leila was prepping garnishes behind the counter, Saima was heading down towards the kitchen with a determined look on her face, and Chef Roland was laser-focused on the food, carrying big pots filled with deliciousness. I grinned wide and welcomed the first guest. We were ready to rock and roll.
Clockwise from top left: Leila, Roland, Bianca, and Trish
© Bianca Garcia
The next few hours went by in a blur. We were fortunate to have sold out both seatings for the evening, and there was a general buzz of excitement in the packed restaurant that sustained throughout the night. Once the food started coming out, we heard plenty of “oohs,” “ahhs,” and “mmms.” The diners were happy and satisfied, and so were we. The Filipino Food Pop-Up Event by BOSFilipinos and The Milagros Project was a success! Below are a few pictures from the evening:
scallop kinilaw
© Matt Nagy
ilocos empanada
© Matt Nagy
chicken inasal steeam bun
© Matt Nagy
pork ribs adobo
© Matt Nagy
leche flan
© Cathy Buena
Chef Roland talking to diners
© Bianca Garcia
happy diners
© Bianca Garcia
the night's menu (hapunan means dinner in Filipino)
© Matt Nagy
dried mangoes and bananas
© Bianca Garcia
We are all grateful for this incredible experience. The months of preparations and meetings (filled with food, no complaints) were worth it, and we are proud of our very first eat-up. Extra special thanks to: Chef Roland of The Milagros Project for sharing his talent and letting Boston have a little taste of the Philippines via his tasting menu; Chin, Lucas, Tanya, Aimee, Renee, and the rest of the team at Saus for their help and participation; our friend Saima for rocking out with us that night; my hubby Matt for designing our menu and branding; and of course to our attendees, family, and friends for the support and encouragement.
MARAMING SALAMAT PO! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
the team post-event
© Bianca Garcia
2017 Boston Asian American Film Festival
The Boston Asian American Film Festival is October 19th - 22nd! If you haven’t heard of or attended BAAFF before, it's produced by the Asian American Resource Workshop, a member-based organization that seeks to document the diverse Asian Pacific American histories, experiences, and social conditions.
There will be 25+ films screened over the course of 4 days, and this year we are co-presenting two short films by Filipino-American filmmakers!
The first is Distance directed by Craig Nisperos, which will be screened on Friday October 20, 2017 at 7:00PM.
From the BAAFF website:
“Distance is a modern day immigration story that focuses on a man’s struggle with being away from his family, his home.”
For $1 off Friday’s screening of Distance (6 other short films will be shown as well!), use the code BOSFilipinos2017. Tickets and film summaries can be viewed by clicking here.
The second film is The Second Province directed by Zorinah Juan, which will be screened on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 3:15PM.
From the BAAFF website:
“Two estranged Filipino-American siblings are forced to reunite when their offbeat mother elects death with dignity.”
For $1 off Saturday’s screening of The Second Province (5 other short films will be shown as well!), you can also use the code BOSFilipinos2017. Tickets and film summaries can be viewed by clicking here.
If you’re as excited as we are, and you can’t wait two whole weeks, there is a FREE preview party tomorrow night (Thursday, October 5, 2017). There will be trailers, treats, and a chance to win screening tickets! Click here for more info.
For the full BAAFF schedule, click here. It’s going to be an incredible festival!
BOSFilipinos' First Eatup is Monday!
Hi BFers and Friends!
Our very first eatup is just around the corner! We're so excited to share this meal with you all at one of our favorite places - Saus. You can still buy tickets here (link) for the 6PM or 8:15PM seating. Check out the menu below, and let us know if you've got any questions!
If you can't make it, you can still spread the love by sharing our ticket link on social media through Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
Thanks for the support as always, and we hope to see you soon!
Tasting Menu Preview*
Scallop Kinilaw
local scallops marinated in coconut vinegar, chili, and herbs
Ilocos Empanada
fried empanada made of rice flour and annatto with vigan style pork sausage, green papaya, and egg
Pancit Molo
savory wonton dumpling soup with shrimp, pork, and garlic
Chicken Inasal Steam Bun
grilled chicken marinated in lemongrass annatto and garlic in a steam bun with scallions and aioli
Pork Rib Adobo
braised pork ribs in soy sauce, spiced vinegar, palm sugar, bay leaves, and peppercorn
Sinangag
a Filipino meal wouldn’t be complete without garlic rice
Leche Flan with Lavender Ube Halaya
sweet egg custard with lavender scented purple yam sauce
*Unfortunately, for this event, there will be no substitutions available.
*Menu subject to change based on availability and seasonality of ingredients.
That's So Filipino - PART I
Happy Wednesday and welcome to the first installation of the three-part series called: That’s So Filipino! In this first part of the series, we’ll talk about several day-to-day things that we use, say, and/or do here in America, that are actually Filipino.
Betcha didn’t know…
...the word ‘boondock’ known as ‘a rural area’ in English, was adopted from the Tagalog word ‘bundok’ (translated as ‘mountain’).
...the butterfly knife, aka the fan knife or Batangas knife, or ‘balisong’ in Tagalog, was first made in Batangas, Philippines.
...the word ‘cooties’, yes, the word that just gave me goosebumps, is adopted from the Filipino word for head lice, or ‘kuto’.
...whenever you hear Carrie Bradshaw talk about wishing she had as many pairs of shoes as Imelda Marcos, she’s actually talking about the former Philippine First Lady’s shoe collection. Mrs. Marcos was claimed to have owned over a thousand pairs of shoes. I’ve actually been lucky enough to see a part of her collection in a museum in Manila, and boy was I amazed!
...that although the karaoke machine was invented by the Japanese, a Filipino named Roberto Del Rosario was the first to patent and build the Karaoke Sing-Along System. It’s probably why it is now the Philippines’ favorite past time, and why Filipinos are also darn good singers.
...the phrase ‘Mani-Pedi’, the combination beauty regimen of a manicure and pedicure, originated in the Philippines.
...that time in P.E. class when you had to learn to step between two large poles without getting your feet caught, is actually a Filipino folk dance called tinikling. It originated from the Spanish colonial times.
...the yoyo is an ilocano word for ‘a toy’. It’s claimed that although the yoyo was invented in ancient Greece, the modern yoyo as we know it, was developed by a Filipino immigrant to the United States.
Congratulations! You are now an even better trivia partner than you were before you read this! It’s Wednesday! I’m sure there’s a trivia night somewhere near you. Enjoy your new found knowledge!
Don't forget to reserve your seat at our Filipino Food Popup Event on September 25th!
Making Filipino Food at Home
H-mart condiment shelf - Mang Tomas All Purpose Sauce is used for lechon (pork dish), and I suppose other purposes as well...
(c) Christina Yung
Half the battle of new recipes is trying to find the right ingredients. I know the first time I made a Filipino dish, I had to go to several different places to find what I needed. And even when I did go to the right stores, the ingredients weren’t in the place that I naturally assumed they’d be. For example, I realized salted duck eggs weren’t by the milk like fresh eggs because they’re kept at room temperature. D’oh! Lucky for you, with the help from some of my fellow Filipina cooks (shout out to Bianca, Leila, Saima K, Christine DC, Christina Y), I pulled together this quick list of where you can get Filipino food ingredients around Greater Boston. And take my advice, if you can’t find an ingredient - ask.
Bagoong (sauteed shrimp paste)... for veggies, unripe mangoes, fried fish
Tocino (cured pork)... for bacon or simple dishes like this one with Salted Egg and Chopped Tomato
Tapa (cured beef)... for tapsilog (the term for tapa, garlic fried rice, and fried egg = Filipino breakfast)
Mark suggestion... Datu Puti vinegar
Flats Mentor Farms - check their FB page that’s linked for your local farmers market
Kangkong (water spinach)… for Kangkong & Tofu with Oyster Sauce
Flavored Spam (like Spicy Spam!)... for Spamsilog (garlic rice, fried Spam, and fried egg = breakfast!)
Palm Corned Beef… for Filipino Corn Beef Hash
Salted Duck Eggs.... for Tomato, Grilled Eggplant, & Salted Egg Salad ( I use sweet onions instead of green, and I don’t do the sauce)
Macapuno (coconut strings)… for Cassava Cake (one of my faves!)
Bagoong (sauteed shrimp paste)... for veggies, unripe mangoes, fried fish
Yakult (I’ve never had it, but it's a probiotic yogurt type of drink that some of the ladies used to drink as kids. Think kefir…)
Sometimes Filipino ice cream…
H-Mart in Burlington - A suggestion from one of our readers, Mark! He confirmed they carry the following:
Frozen lumpia (spring rolls)
Longanisa (sausage)
Tocino (cured pork)
Malunggay (leaves used in soups and broths)
Monggo (beans)
Jia Ho Super Market in Chinatown
Banana Leaves… for decoration or cooking like in this Bibingka with Rice Cakes recipe
Spicy vinegars… for everything. Filipinos love them some vinegars.
Dilis (anchovies)… for Crispy Fried Dilis
Pinoy sardines… for Ginisang Sardinas
Kangkong (water spinach)… for Kangkong & Tofu with Oyster Sauce
Salted Duck Eggs.... for Tomato, Grilled Eggplant, & Salted Egg Salad (but I use sweet onions instead of green, and I don’t do the sauce)
Skyflakes (crackers)… for snacking
Haw flake (candy, kinda like fruit leather)… for snacking
Sotanghon pancit rice noodles… for Pancit Sotanghon
Pomelo (citrus fruit)… for snacking and salads
Persimmons (fruit)… for snacking
Kam Man Foods in Quincy
They have an ENTIRE AISLE dedicated to Filipino ingredients!
Bagoong (sauteed shrimp paste)... for veggies, unripe mangoes, fried fish
Pancit (noodles)… for Pancit Bihon
Chicken Tocino… for Filipino breakfast like the tapsilog I listed above!
Maggi Savor Calamansi (liquid calamansi seasoning)... for Bistek (Filipino beef steak)
Salmon head... for Sinigang na Salmon
Goat meat… for Goat Caldareta
McKinnon’s Meat Market in Somerville
Oxtail… for Kare Kare (oxtail stew)
You can also call most butchers and ask!
Lumpiang shanghai (spring rolls)
Ube ice cream
Bangus (milk fish)… for Bangus Paksiw
Tinapa (smoked fish)... for Tinapa Fried Rice
Tocino (cured pork)... for bacon or simple dishes like this one with Salted Egg and Chopped Tomato
Tapa (cured beef)... for tapsilog (the term for tapa, garlic fried rice, and fried egg = Filipino breakfast)
Ensaymada (sweet bread / pastry)
Outside of greater Boston:
Pinoy Republic in Worcester
Moving forward we’ll be creating a resources page for all your Filipino food needs, so stay tuned!
What are we missing? The stores above are only the ones we / our friends go to, so please feel free to share where you go to get your Filipino goodies. Comment below and we’ll add it to the resources page once it’s up!
Save the Date For Our First Eatup
Hi BFers & friends -
We are thrilled to announce that our first eatup (food pop-up!) will be September 25th at Saus! We’ll be partnering up with the Milagros Project and Chef Roland Calupe to bring you his creative take on Filipino cuisine.
What can you expect? The BF founders will be in full force working the front of the house, while Chef Roland talks you through his 3 course (yeah, you definitely won’t go home hungry) menu. There’ll be lots of food, learnin’, and laughs.
Stay tuned to our social (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) for the Eventbrite link in the next week, as tickets are limited. The invite will include the full menu, details on the 2 seatings we’ll be offering, and it will (hopefully) answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, if you've got any burning questions you can reach out to us via our Contact page.
We hope to see you there!
- Trish, Bianca, Leila
More about Saus:
Known for their french fries and housemade dipping sauces, Saus is a fast-ish casual restaurant serving made-from-scratch food with a focus on condiments.
More about the Milagros Project:
The Milagros Project promotes Filipino food, beverage, and culture through media and dining events in Chicago, Boston, and NYC.