Maasin City, Southern Leyte: A Foodie's Paradise

“Food is an essential part of living. Among all human activities, eating undoubtedly has the greatest effect on health! After breathing, eating is what we do most frequently during a lifetime.” says Tunde Ajobo, a dietitian at University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Truly, food is important to every individual in existence. Without food, one cannot survive. People worldwide depend on food for daily survival and energy for work. Food is consumed by an entity in accordance with the place and culture where he / she belongs.

Southern Leyte is a province in the Philippines that is located in the Eastern Visayas region. It has eighteen municipalities with one city, having a total population of 390,847.

Southern Leyte

Food has always been a major necessity of the people in the province. Everywhere you go, people’s major concern is food. You always seem to find people eating, especially when they are bored or not doing anything. It is a common pastime of the Southern Leyteńos.

Every place in Southern Leyte has different types of food specialties, depending on what is abundant in it. In Silago - the farthest municipality of the province - for instance, they have the "banagan", a freshwater lobster that is abundant in their rivers, as their specialty. It is usually served when it is already orange in color, crisp, and fresh from the stove on special occasions such as barrio fiestas. It is more delicious when cooked in Sprite beverage, which adds and enhances its flavor. Every time we go to Silago, which is also my Grandfather’s hometown, we always catch ‘banagan’ and bring it fresh and alive back to our homeland.

"Banagan" in Silago

On the other hand, in Pintuyan, one of the four municipalities of the Panaon Island – which is across Surigao, the delicacy they have is "ampaw", which is commonly called rice puff. It is made of rice mixed with syrup (sugar and water) and is dried under the sun, which makes it sweet and crispy. They have the best ‘ampaws’ in the province of Southern Leyte, selling the products to different places in the said province.

"Ampaw" in Pintuyan

Meanwhile, dairy products such as fresh cow’s milk, which comes in various flavors, are abundant in Sogod, the most productive municipality second to Maasin City. It comes in pure milk, chocolate, strawberry, ube, and melon flavors. Every time we visit Silago, we always pass by Sogod. Dropping off Sogod, we constantly buy fresh milk for refreshments. Other specialties in Southern Leyte are the ‘budbud’, a sticky rice delicacy cooked with coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves then steamed; and bingka, a rice cake made with fire on its top and bottom. Both can be found in Padre Burgos, the second municipality from Maasin City to the Southeast.

''Budbud" and "Bingka" in Padre Burgos

However, in my own opinion, among the food all over the different parts of Southern Leyte, the food in Maasin City is the most sumptuous of all. Well, being a true Maasinhon, I can definitely say that the local food is the best food. For seventeen years of existence in the world, I have always loved the food in our place. Though I was not born in Maasin, still I admire the local food for I grew up there. Being a native of Maasin City, I am going to focus on it for it is the one closest to my heart. Maasin City is the only city in the whole province of Southern Leyte, which is composed of 70 barangays. It is also the capital of the province and is the border from Leyte in the West. One of the most famous specialties in our place is the ‘bocarillo’, a homemade sweet delicacy made of grated meat of young coconut or ripe jackfruit, milk and sugar. It also comes in different flavors such as ube, pineapple, durian, cheese, lemon, or anything you want to put in it if you will only request. 

Maasin City

"Bocarillo" in Maasin City

As you can see, food reflects the culture and lifestyle of the people in Maasin City. People in our place usually love to relax and hang around, especially with friends. You can always see people around the city going out. Because of this, foods sold here are typically intended for consuming outdoors. Examples are the fast foods, which are mostly sold around. These include burgers, pizzas, and the common street foods such as the barbecues, tempuras, squid balls and siomai. Roasted legumes are also a big sale here, especially when it is paired with beer or any beverage when chilling out. 

Friends chilling out on a Friday night having roasted nuts and beer

The lifestyle in Maasin is not fast-paced. Though it is a city, it is not that urbanized yet. It is somehow a rural type of city. Having the mentality of being a bucolic place, people tend to keep things in a regular flow. They do not like to rush things nor keep them slow, same as through with preparing food. This can be seen in cooking barbecues. Grilling barbecues takes time and is usually done outside of the house. That is why people go out just to eat barbecues. Nevertheless, they do not really consider going out as hassle, for the reason that it gives them the opportunity to go socializing. Being a small place, everybody knows almost everyone. Close and tight bonds are usually formed in our place. That is why “salo-salo” or eating in groups is mostly done.

People chilling while waiting for their barbecue to be cooked

Groups of people having dinner

Populaces, young or old, prefer to eat outside and in groups to meet the ambience of leisure and fun. They are usually extroverts, and do not want to be alone, especially in eating. Maasinhons love to converse while eating. You will seldom see people eat alone and silent. Through conversing, they meet the pleasure of socializing and entertainment. They easily smile and get happy, even when only meeting an acquaintance or friend. They even get merrier when they have the chance to chatter with them. Some say Maasinhons are gossipers since they always love to chat and talk about people, issues, and many other things. Gossips are easily spread out in the place – usually in eating places, from one to another.

Old and young people having dinner outside

Eating places in Maasin City are a big factor and reflection on how people eat. There are various types of eating houses that can be found in our place – from the common eating hashes to the pleasing bistros. One of the famous and probably the best place for street foods is the “Mcdo”, or a short for “mag-dukoduko”, meaning to bow the heads down. This was called so since the very first setting of the eating place was at the reclamation area of Maasin, which was very dark then. Since there were no lights, people always bow their heads down as to look closely at the food they are consuming. “Mcdo” is somehow a “corporation” of street food stalls, wherein there are different vendors and owners of each stall. Most foods sold are the barbecues and the hanging rice, which is commonly called “puso” in vernacular.

People eating at "Mcdo"

Another type of eatery is the pastry shop. Example of this is Panny’s, which was used to be a simple home-based pastry store that improved and now has 3 branches in the city.  They sell bread, cakes, cookies, ice cream, and other confectioneries. Students usually eat here since it is near the school. 

Students eating at Panny's

We also have Jollibee and Andok’s, which are fast food chains. Still accessible at schools and offices, students and employees eat at these food places.

My classmates and I eating at Andok's

A family eating at Jollibee after school/office hours

In addition, restaurants cannot be missing, of course. We have Esoy’s Grill, which features Chicken Ati-atihan products; Kinamot sa Abgao, a native restaurant which is located near the seaside and serves the most excellent local (Filipino) foods in the city; and Supercha, a restaurant situated in the heart of the city which serves the finest courses in town. It serves from the simple French fries to the juicy “Supercha barbecue”, their specialty dish which is chicken barbecue marinated and covered in their secret sauce.

My grandparents eating at Esoy's Grill

My Mom relishing some appetizers before the main course is served at Kinamot sa Abgao

A family eating at Supercha

Eating places serve people from different classes of society. People eat according to where and what food they can afford. For instance, those who are not so blessed with wealth eat at “Mcdo” since foods sold there are affordable. But not only that, they are also very delicious – which is a positive on their part. Average people usually go to Supercha, which is the most trending restaurant in Maasin with 3 branches. It also does catering services, which makes it easier for people to have the food that they want. Rich people more often than not go to Kinamot sa Abgao for a meal outside since the ambience is tranquil and pleasant. Though the food is quite expensive, they can afford to pay for it. Entertainment is also present in the eating place. Sometimes, there are bands that will perform various genres, especially during Friday nights.

My friends having a pic with Spongecola before they perform at Kinamot sa Abgao

In each type of eating place, eating manners are observed. Commoners eat in compliance with the place where they put away food. In the streets, people care less on how they eat. They can just eat using their hands, which is commonly practiced by anyone eating street foods. In fast food chains and restaurants, spoon and fork are used in eating, with less or no use of bare hands at all. 

Nevertheless, no matter who or where you are, the pleasure of food depends on what and how you devour it. People have different types and tastes of food. As for a foodie like me, my tongue will always be loyal to the local food, for Maasin is my seventh heaven.

Me eating Kinamot sa Abgao's juice pork barbecue

comm 1 assignment o8-o4-11

1. Mark Twain is the author of Huckleberry Finn.
Huckleberry Finn is a classic American novel.
Mark Twain's real name was Samuel L. Clemens.
He lived in Hartford for several years.

Samuel L. Clemens - the real name of Mark Twain and had lived in Hartford for several years - wrote Huckleberry Finn, a classic American novel.




2. Mark Twain's house was very elaborate and elegant.
It was on Farmington Avenue.
It was in an area called Nook Farm.
He was a neighbor of Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. 

Mark Twain had an elaborate and elegant house on Farmington Avenue in an area called Nook Farm, and was a neighbor of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the writer of Uncle Tom's Cabin.



3. Mark Twain's home has a large side porch.
Windows and a balcony overlook the porch.
Today, people say the windows and balcony remind them of a steamboat.
In his youth, Twain piloted steamboats on the Mississippi. 

A balcony and windows, which currently remind people of a steamboat - which was piloted by young Twain on the Mississippi - overlook Mark Twain's large side porch.




4. Mark Twain was one of the first three people in Hartford to own a telephone.
The telephone was first used commercially in nearby New Haven.
There was practically no one to talk to.
Mark Twain never really liked this newfangled gadget. 

Although Mark Twain was one of the first three people in Hartford to own a telephone - which was first used commercially in nearby New Haven - he never really liked this newfangled gadget because there was practically no one to talk to.



5. Mark Twain loved industrial inventions.
He lost a fortune investing in them.
One of these inventions was the elaborate Paige typesetter.
Unfortunately for Twain, this machine was developed at the same time as the Linotype.
The Linotype machine was much simpler and less expensive.

Mark Twain loved industrial inventions, to which he lost a fortune investing in them, such as the elaborate Paige typesetter, which unfortunately for Twain, was developed at the same time as the simpler and less expensive Linotype machine.



6. Mark Twain's beloved daughter, Susy, died in the Hartford home.
She died of spinal meningitis.
Twain never felt the same about the house again.
He soon left the house and Hartford.
He returned only once.
He came back for the funeral of his friend, Charles Dudley Warner.

Mark Twain's beloved daughter, Susy, died of spinal meningitis in the Hartford home, which caused him to leave the place since he never felt the same about the house again, returning only once for the funeral of Charles Dudley Warner, his friend.

comm 1 assignment o5-o7-11

CALORIES IN FILIPINO FOODS

The writer jotted down similar occurrences on describing how people are interested to know how much calories  are contained in a given amount of food items we choose to take. He provided definition of certain words in his article. He also gave the proper ways on how to measure one's ideal body weight (IBW), total calorie requirement (TCR), and gave examples on calculating the said measures. He stated facts about the calories of food and its effect on a person's body weight. He wrote some specific activities with its corresponding average burnt calories. There were also foods given with its equivalent retained calories based on its amount taken. A variety of concrete foods and drinks were sited, which are in fact the eatables and beverages that are mostly partaken by Filipinos.

INDIAN FOOD

In this article, the writer describes the food in India according to specific places. He/she wrote down how food is prepared in every part of the country. By just reading the description of the food and on how it is cooked, it can be imagined clearly since he/she sited distinct examples and ways on how it is set. In every region of India, the writer also provided known foods with definite depictions of each. He/she did not give general or broad examples of the foods so the readers can distinguish what the comestibles are like.

Comm 1 assignment

Nostalgia for Kerala (and its food) by Pete Cherches

POSITIVE:

1. As Cochin is a coastal city, seafood is bountiful, and the Sealord does it up well.
2. Jewtown is a fascinating place.
3. Jewtown is full of curio and spice shops, and the smells are wonderful.
4. It was a lovely, idyllic place, and I felt a bit like Gauguin arriving in Tahiti. 
5. Fortunately the ticket seller realized we were just going along for a pleasure ride and advised us that the boat gets to Varapuzha at 4:30, but that the last one back to Cochin leaves there at 4:25, so we'd have to get off a stop or two earlier.

Turn out the lite by Anderson Digby

NEGATIVE:

1. The mildest thing one would want to say about this horrid dry pink innovation, which sweated under the grill and fell to bits under the knife, was that it was less than a sausage.
2. Which is precisely what has been happening to food and much else on a grand or rather a pathetic scale.
3. There is a word that usefully captures this trend to the insipid and denatured, and it is "Lite." 
4. Our morality is Lite, childish, and diluted.
5. The entertainment industry is fluffy and flimsy.

story of appreciation

This is a powerful message in our modern society. We seemed to have lost our bearing & our sense of direction.

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" 

The youth answered "none".

The director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" 

The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees."

The director asked, " Where did your mother work?" 

The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner."

The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"

The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me."

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning."

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes."

The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings."

The youth said," Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship."

The director said, " This is what I am looking for to be my manager. </span>I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired."

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead? You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done. 

You would have forwarded many mails to many and many of them would have back mailed you too...but try and forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate...

- dad

how touching ... especially that Dad sent it to me. aaaaaww :')

now i understand why he's doing such things to me. 

THANKS DAD! :)

I LOVE YOU! <3