Magic in Mundanity

It's fiesta time in Tarlac, my father's home province, and my family has decided to make the trip from Manila to catch up with relatives. I agree with enthusiasm to the idea of visiting since to me, fiestas are almost synonymous with another concept - the buffet.

Philippine fiestas are usually accompanied by overflowing buffet spreads, as it is customary to throw open one's gates and let anyone who wants to visit (and eat) enter. This leads hosts to serve a variety of viands, so that everyone can be as satisfied as possible with the food served.

Arriving during lunch time, we are immediately directed to the lunch area by my aunt after paying our respect. Walking up to the first table of the buffet spread, I begin to muse over the food served.

Rice is the staple of the Filipino diet, and was served in ample amounts. There was the sour tamarind soup sinigang and the classic adobo, both dishes being distinctly Filipino with parallels in the surrounding islands. Obvious Chinese influences could be seen with the presence of deep-fried spring rolls and pancit, a noodle dish, while the effect of 300 years of Spanish colonization was made evident by rich, long-cooking stews like beef caldereta and complicated dishes like paella. I take some of each, and move on.

The Philippines has a strong fascination with everything American, and the presence of both fried chicken and spaghetti on the buffet spread - as well as the bottle of soda I grabbed to cool my thirst - reinforces that. Finally, for dessert I take a halo-halo, a shaved iced dessert made common during the Japanese occupation of the islands.

Going to my seat, I'm struck with the realization that on my plate I have a reasonable summary of Philippine history on my plate. Everything from pre-Spanish times to the modern era was represented by a dish on the buffet table. Different influences, but as I can attest after the meal, they all mesh well together into a harmonious whole, much like the Philippines itself.