I Would Rather Go Hungry Than Eat Filipino Food Again!

[Gumusut_Amige]

if this guy has been re-directed to tsikot from his search of a good restaurant... then he should have been well-informed!

[Red Advent 04]

kung purong forener sha pwede pako maniwala sa kanya..talagang maarte nga lang yaan. torat nga nakain sha panigurado tapos pag kaing fenoy ayaw nya.:police:

[Monseratto]

Another Foreigner's Response To "I'd Rather Go Hungry" Girl - I Dreamed Of This - Seeking Peace of Mind Through One Way Travel

A Letter To "I'd Rather Go Hungry Than Eat Filipino Food Again" Girl

Thanks for being honest with your opinions about Filipino food. Thanks for not holding back. Mostly, thank you for making me (another foreign blogger writing about the Philippines) look good. I mean, you're making me look really good. Yes, I wrote a "letter to Filipinos" a few weeks ago, and I worried it might be misinterpreted - possibly angering some Filipinos.

However, now that I have the perspective of reading your blog about Filipino food, I realize that I had nothing to worry about. My blog was received VERY well in comparison. You are receiving a lof of very negative attention, and I am usually a compassionate person, but in this case I think you may know exactly what you are doing.

In fact, it seems like you might be intentionally trying to antagonize Filipino people in order to bring attention to your blog, and here is why:

A full month ago you wrote another blog about your "impressions of the Philippines", and you included a few negative sections about the food. Then, perhaps you sat back and watched all the comments slowly start coming in. When you realized how sensitive and proud Filipinos can be about their food specifically, you decided to take advantage of the situation and write another inflammatory post all about the food.

Knowing how many comments came the first time, you chose to make your opinions and wording even more abrasive (offensive?) the second time...and guess what? The comments did indeed come pouring in! Yes, they're almost all negative, but look at all that blog traffic! Of course I can't say this is exactly what happened, but it certainly seems to be a possibility. Yes, you have a lot of eyes on your blog, but is this really the kind of attention you want?

Aside from all that, I would give you more credit if your observations resembled the actual reality of being a foreign tourist in the Philippines. It pains me to read how you describe the people and cuisine. You mention that people asked you to pay for a photo of them, and I'm curious as to how I spent an entire year all over the country (as a photographer), but have never been asked to pay for a photo once? Am I being nicer to them? Better luck?

As for being "ripped off", you seem to be a seasoned traveler, so you must realize how dishonest taxi and tuk tuk drivers are in other countries - in fact, much more so than in the Philippines. It's not fair of me to comment on China (from experience) because I've only been to Hong Kong, but from what I've heard, it's actually very bad there (and I think that's where you have spent the most time!).

You also mentioned how the different forms of public transportation are unsafe because of no seatbelts - well (with the exception of airplanes) most people know that seatbelts aren't used in public transportation anywhere in the world. Basically, honesty is great, but not at the expense of fairness.

If You Don't Want to be Treated Like a Tourist, Stop Acting Like One

Speaking of fairness, to be fair, at first I did not enjoy the food in Manila or some of the touristy areas I visited. I agree that some of it was over-flavored and unhealthy. The irony is that in my opinion, that's because these specific foods were very WESTERNIZED. Though it's not nearly as bad as you make it seem, the "obesity problem" you mention (in my opinion, and only in Manila) comes from the American-style fast food culture.

Other than that, in touristy areas, they serve food to...guess who? Tourists! In a place like Thailand, for example, that means you see these "western" fruit breakfasts, pancakes, French toast, hot dogs...etc. The same thing is happening in the Philippines. A lot of backpackers are looking for western foods after traveling so long. Demand creates supply.

As you should know, if you want the "real deal", you must escape the tourists (and vendors who sell to them). It's simple. "Street food" in the Philippines is not the enemy, and I don't believe you have to go to fancy traditional Filipino restaurants to get great food.

know it's not fair to compare my experience to yours, because it seems you may have only been in the country for a week or so. However, your short stay is exactly why I (and many others) hope you will be more careful with the "impressions" that you put out into the world in the future. You may be doing a real disservice to a country and a culture that has a lot to offer international travelers - and a country that could surely use the money generated by tourism.

A Possible Diagnosis For You?
As for Filipino food making you sick, I must admit that I have a strong stomach. Filipino food (in any form) never made me sick. While I'm sure it happens occasionally, I don't recall any tourists being sick - and some of them ate balut with me

You mention that after eating the food, you felt bloated and tired. You also mentioned that you had massive migraine headaches, and mood swings.

I'm no expert, and forgive me for saying this, but based on the symptoms you have described it appears as if you might have been experiencing PMS during your stay in the Philippines. You certainly don't look very happy in the black and white photo at the top of your post. The tone and mood of your post seems a bit "moody" also, so it would make sense if you were uncomfortable during your stay in the country.

If this is the case, it is especially unfair to blame your sour mood on the food of the Philippines.

Balik Sa Pinas
I say come back (just don't tell people who you are Give it more time, explore the country more fully, and with an open mind. I'm glad you acknowledge that it's one of the most beautiful places you've ever been. On closer inspection you just might find that this beauty extends to the people and food as well...I know it did for me!

Filipinos are wonderful people...so wonderful, in fact, that there is a good chance they will let you come back just to prove you wrong about their culinary heritage


Just thought I should give another foreigner's opinions.


Sincerely,
Nathan Allen

[holdencaulfield]

sa quiapo or sa recto ata kumanin eto eh.

Or sa loob nang palengke.

what do you expect.

masarap pagkain sa loob ng palengke ser.
karamihan ng pagkain diyan, kung di ako nagkakamali, laging bago.
pag namamalengke ako sa
SUKI market dito sa mayon q.c. dumiderecho ako sa nagluluto ng dinuguan. sarap din ng ibang putahe nila at "mukha" namang malinis.
sa farmers market ganiyan din.

eh gago pala yang nagcomment
na yan eh.
baka dala niya 100 piso lang pang tatlong araw na niyang pangkain.
kutob ko isang lugar lang sa iskuwater tinuluyan nitong "tsipskeyt" nato?
biro mo dalawang araw na niyang napansin yung isdang di nagbabago ng ayos.
asan ba siya?
itong tangang ito ni hindi man lang nag ikot-ikot?
o walang pera pang-ikot?kaya yan, naghahanap ka ng "mura", yan ang bagay sayo, magTAE!

at huwag kang maghangad ng masarap kung wala kang palang pera! mag ipon-ipon ka muna you pool! este full!
este fool!

[_Cathy_]

I go to the wet market to buy my favorite carioka. Kakanin is decent at the palengke.

Posted via Tsikot Mobile App

[basti08]

Sana nag paluto na lang sya sa akin

$25 bucks for a whole day's meal is more than sufficient for an average Filipino. If indeed, she wanted to try how the locals eat. Which for the record an average individual earns about 456 PHP a day (which is less than half of her $25 budget), hindi naman siguro nagtitiis lahat ng mga yun sa walang kwentang pagkain di ba?

Her write-up is just so stupid, with personal bias and does not justify our rather flavorful cuisine IMO.

[oliver1013]

Dalhin sa pampanga yan at pakainin ng lutong kapampangan...

[greatauror28]

You get what you pay for. Don't expect to get a Cadillac when you paid for a kia
Nakiki wi-fi lang

Ansakit mo naman magsalita
At least made in Georgia ang Kia ko, hindi SoKor haha

OT: With a budget of almost Php1100 a day, one can get "authentic" Filipino food during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus, 2 snacks. She's just being the "usual" tourist who didn't researched enough on where to find really good food.

And not all street foods are dirty. You just have to be very picky finding one, and you must really know your way around to find such street food "gems".

[jick.cejoco]

Hahahaha just call it KIADILLAC;)


Nakiki wi-fi lang

[Helios]

she can diss anyone she likes for cheap web hits. however...

alain ducasse, todd english, tony bourdain and cristeta comerford would beg to differ

it's funny indian and khmer street chows included among her favs. hello, dioherrhea! yumm, salmonella flavour!