December 07, 2022

Filipino Desserts

December 07, 2022/ Stefanie Velichkin

If there’s anything Filipinos love more than food, it’s dessert. Truthfully, there are so many Filipino desserts I could have chosen for this list, but these are the ones I ate most growing up. Like the rest of Filipino cuisine, it’s been influenced by Spanish and American culture but the common ingredients you’ll find in Filipino desserts are rice and coconut milk. These dishes are eaten after a meal and also as a snack. In my opinion, you can never have too much dessert.

1. Turon (too-ron): Turon is jackfruit and banana (or plantain) that’s wrapped in spring roll wrapper, deep fried, and then topped with syrup. I’ve always loved the way my mom did it: dipped in white sugar and cinnamon. It’s kind of like a banana spring roll! Funny story: we once went camping and my mom mixed up the salt and the sugar. She had no idea until I tried it and saw my face! She’s never made that mistake again.

turon, deep fried banana — photo: kyoko uchida.

2. Biko (bee-ko): Biko is a sweet and sticky rice cake. It’s made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar. The top layer is a caramel glaze that can be garnished with coconut curds. There’s nothing like coming to the smell of biko being made. I remember many times coming home from school and my mom immediately thrusting a spoon in my hand to keep stirring the caramel while she ran off for an errand. It’s no fun being stuck as a stirrer, but once you taste biko, it’s worth it.

3. Puto (poo-toe): Puto’s another rice-based dessert. Instead of glutinous rice, it’s made with rice flour, sugar, coconut milk, and then steamed. The results are soft and airy little rice cakes. They’re served with cheese and can be made with different flavours such as ube (purple yam) or pandan (screwpine, a tropical plant).

4. Leche Flan (lech-eh): is a small caramel custard dessert made with egg yolks, evaporated or condensed milk, and sugar. It is not the same as creme caramel, which tastes lighter and uses cream. This dessert is truly the definition of decadence. Panlasang Pinoy has a great recipe here.

5. Halo halo (ha-loh ha-loh): Tagalog for mix-mix, halo-halo is layers of shaved iced, condensed milk, syrup and various toppings like red beans, sago, jelly, coconut flakes, fruit, ice cream. As a result, you get lots of soft and crunchy textures. Think of it like a Filipino parfait. It is a refreshing treat in the summertime. With halo-halo, the possibilities are endless.

Like I said, there are many other desserts I didn’t list here that should be mentioned: cassava cake, taho, polvoron, and bibingka. Vendors all over the Philippines sell these desserts for dirt cheap but if you’re not traveling anytime soon, find them at your local Filipino restaurant. Undoubtedly, any Filipino gathering will have them, used as fuel food between karaoke songs and line dancing. So sharpen your sweet tooth and get eating!

Stefanie Velichkin is a young actor and writer from Ottawa, ON. She is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Theatre program and a student of Algonquin College’s Professional Writing program. Her interests include true crime, cats, and drinking bubble tea.

November 14, 2022

Cebu, Philippines: The Place to be This Winter

November 14, 2022/ Stefanie Velichkin

Now that the pandemic is over and things are going back to normal, you might be booking a well-deserved vacation. If you’re not sure where to go yet, read on to learn why the Philippines should be your next stop. Who doesn’t want to be surrounded by palm trees and coconuts?

1. Sirao Flower Garden

Do you love flowers? Then you’ll definitely have to stop by this botanical garden in Barangay Sirao, Cebu City. It’s also named Little Amsterdam because of the windmills and all the flowers. There are giant statutes and structures for people to sit and stand on. It is the perfect spot for taking pictures! Entrance fee is cheap (about $2 CAD) and there are food stalls run by locals nearby to reward yourself from all the selfie-taking.

one of the many gardens in sirao garden. credit: stefanie velichkin

2. Temple of Leah

Built in 2012 by Teodorico Soriano Adarna for his wife Leah Adarna, this is the perfect spot for romantics. The water fountains and nude statues will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Grecian temple. It features a museum, an art gallery, and a library. The most impressive art piece is a nine-foot brass statue of Leah. Like the Sirao Flower garden, it requires a small entrance fee. It’s not a big place, so you’ll be able to squeeze it into a busy day.

one of the statues at temple of leah. credit: rj trazona, unsplash.

3. Bantayan Island

For the island lovers, you’ll have to stop here. Bantayan Island offers many activities such as swimming, cliff-diving, island hopping, and kayaking. The island supplies the fish for the city, and even Manila and Mindanao. The best time to go would be during the dry season, from February to mid-May. There are plenty of hotels and resorts to stay in. It’s less crowded than Boracay Island, another popular vacation spot in the Philippines.

palm trees at bantayan island. credit: Stefanie Velichkin

4. Oslob Whale Sharks

Located in the Oslob municipality, this spot became popular when fishermen would feed the sharks and tourists would gather to watch. People can go snorkeling and diving with the sharks, or just watch from a boat. They are harmless and while you can get pretty close, you can’t touch them; they’re still wild animals, after all. It’s a pretty cool experience, especially if you can manage to get a picture or video with them. It’s not everyday you can swim with sharks!

a single whale shark. credit: olga ga, unsplash.

5. Simala Church

If you didn’t know already, Filipinos are very religious; most of them are devout Catholics. Even if you’re not religious, the Simala Parish Church in Sibonga is worth a visit. It looks and feels like a castle. While there’s no entrance fee, visitors must adhere to a dress code. That means no sleeveless tops, shorts, or skirts. It is a very spiritual place and visitors must be careful not to disturb fellow patrons.

a view of the church. credit: Stefanie velichkin

In addition to all these beautiful places, everything in the Philippines is cheap: food, hotels, and souvenirs. English is one of the official languages so as long as you stay in the city, you’ll be able to converse with most of the locals without knowing any Tagalog. So what are you waiting for, book that ticket already!

October 19, 2022

Five Filipino Dishes You Need to Try

October 19, 2022/ Stefanie Velichkin

Sushi, ramen, and pho are just some of the Asian dishes you’ve probably tried –what about Filipino food? Their cuisine is seriously underrated. It’s been influenced by many cultures, but most notably China, Spain, and the US. The Filipino palate is sweet, savoury, and sour. The main proteins you’ll find are fish, chicken, and pork. For those who are curious about the cuisine, here are five dishes that are an absolute must-try! Let’s dive in!

1. Chicken/Pork Adobo

Chicken adobo is the national dish of the Philippines. Each region will have its own version of the dish but essentially, the meat is simmered in vinegar, soy sauce, black peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves. It’s an incredibly easy dish to make and a huge staple at get-togethers. It is always served with rice. I would suggest chicken adobo for anyone who’s trying Filipino food for the first time.

2. Pork Sinigang

Sinigang (sin-ah-gung) for Filipinos is what chicken noodle soup is for Canadians –comfort food. The name of the dish comes from the Tagalog word “sigang” which means “to stew.” It is a sour pork soup but other proteins can be used such as fish or beef ribs. What makes it sour is the unripe tamarind (pods of fruit grown from trees) but others may choose a different souring agent like mango or pineapple. It also features vegetables like bok choy, egg plant, okra, and long beans. Like chicken adobo, there are many variations. It’s perfect for a rainy day or when you have a cold.

3. Lechon

You’ll find lechon at big Filipino celebrations like weddings or Christmas. It’s stuffed with tamarind, onions, garlic, and then slowly roasted over a fire. The end result is a super crispy skin. Almost the entire pig gets eaten!

4. Pancit

These are Filipino noodles. Chinese immigrants introduced Filipinos to noodles during the 16th century. Pancit noodles are stir fried with soy sauce and vegetables like green beans, carrots, snow peas and cabbage. There are different types of pancit but the two main ones are Pancit Bihon, which is rice stick noodles and then pancit canton, which is egg noodles. They also have meat (pork chop, chicken breast). They can be garnished with green onions, sliced boiled eggs, or peanuts. It is also served with calamansi, a Filipino lime. It can be made vegetarian by leaving out the meat or subbing in tofu.

5. Lumpia

Who doesn’t love spring rolls? As an appetizer, lumpia (loomp-ee-ya) is always a huge hit. Meat -usually pork- and veggies get wrapped in a rice wrapper and then deep fried. The only problem with lumpia is that they’re super addictive. You can never have just one.

…And those are the top five Filipino dishes you have to try. What are you waiting for? Find your local Filipino restaurant or Filipino friend and get eating! Just to be sure to bring your stretchiest pants.

Photo: Lechon (middle), lumpia (bottom right) and pancit bihon (bottom left).

World Cultures