50 ways to become proudly Filipino , part two

Every day when I work with my Pinoy friends I learn new things. Back in Awali my houseboy Jake was helping in the kitchen and I asked him to top and tail some green beans. I had invited some Indian colleagues for lunch who were vegetarian and we had used up all the Green Beans. The first batch I had painstakingly cut the ends off with a knife. The second batch I gave to Jake and watched amazed as he expertly top and tailed them. It was then I learnt Lesson 21 in becoming Filipino:

21. Use your hands!

Jake just snapped the top and bottom if the beans off with his fingers. He told me that was how his mum showed him! Also when making meatballs its best to use your hands to mix and shape them. However Corleen does not like to get his hands dirty so he taught me to wear gloves ( you get a free pair with a take away from Thailand Seafood in Bussatein!)

The British Kabayan makes meatballs, before Corleen pretends he always does it!

Corleen shaping Jamie's great British Meatballs without gloves

A little later we needed to get the fruit from some Pomegranates. I had never even seen a real life Pomegranate before ( my dealings with Pomegranate was the packed Juice that Corleen stole - you can read about that in another blog!)

That was when I learnt Lesson 22 in becoming Filipino:

22. Hit the bottom hard with a wooden spoon

Then the pomegranate seeds just fall out! Jake showed me again how he did it back home ( he lived on a farm for those who did not read about him in another blog. That's why Jake did all the heavy work around the house, lifting 18 kg bags of millet, feeding the birds, watering the compost etc. Corleen kept reminding me he was a Dress Designer not a labourer!

I tried later using the wooden spoon , hitting on the bottom and it worked well Until the wooden spoon broke on someone's bottom!

Farmer Jake watering the Compost

23. Rolling pastry without a rolling pin

Once I sent all my belongings to the Philippines in December 2020 I learnt a whole more new tricks from my Pinoy friends in the Kitchen.

Joshua showed me how to roll pastry using a glass bottle instead of a rolling pin.

24. Chopping without a chopping board

Then Jake showed me how to cut a cucumber when you do not have a chopping board- just turn a plate or a bowl upside down and cut it on that

24. Crushing without a pestle and mortar

Again Jake showed me this hack- use the bottom of a coffee mug to crush the peppercorns, cloves or whatever you need crushed!

25- 31 from Chester!

Aldwin Chester Delos Santos

Pinoy Budget in a Nutshell

1. Dilute everything in water

2. Vicks heals everything

3. Reuse cooking oil 7 times

4. Ice cream canisters are future Tupperware's

5. The actual Tupperware's are reserved for special occasions

6. Biscuit tins are future sewing cases

7. Always buy an inch bigger shoes

and so on. Ask my mom, she's a pro

My thanks to a Pinoy friend here in Bahrain for reminding me of the next few:

32. Take Pasalubong when you visit friends in the Philippines ( and return to Bahrain!)

Pasalubong is Tagalog for a gift and when you tell a Pinoy you are going on vacation they will always say "Don't forget my Pasalubong Kuya/ Tatay/ Po "

I would like to thank my former work colleagues Dino and Hazel for their endless supply of my favourite Pasalubong over the years at Bapco. Always tee shirts and Chicharron from Dino and a variety of kitchen gifts from Ate Hazel.

My favourite Pasalubong story is when I visited Ate Marz and her family in Sibaltan just before Christmas. By then my hair was grey, I had a big belly and so her little one asked her sister if I was Father Christmas !

Which links nicely to number 33.

33. Give a Blessing and show respect to your seniors.

The girls whispered in Mars ear after I gave them the chocolate and she nodded and then said to me - "Neil, my girls would like to Bless you for your gifts"

I obviously looked surprised having never been Blessed before, and so she explained that the kids do this as a sign of respect and I should offer them my hand which I did and both knelt and bowed and kissed my hand. It was a very emotional moment and one I will never forget- thanks girls, and also to Making, Jhoanna's step brother who did the same when he first met me ( and Way, Wanchai's younger brother in Thailand when I first met him).

Ray, Marz and the girls in Sibaltan, Palawan

34. Wear a towel under your tee shirt to absorb the sweat

Thanks to Ronnie for reminding me of this one- and for lovingly placing the towel under my tee shirt at our Boodle Fight. Thanks to Jake for taking the pic

35. Host a Boodle Fight

I crossed this one off my list for Fathers day in 2021 when I booked Tata Ed to prepare a Boodle Fight in my flat in Juffair for my Friday Gang- Corleen, Jake, Ronnie, Beshy and me!