bowl of rice

How Important is Rice to Filipinos?

Share

My wife is from the Philippines, therefore I have a good idea of how important rice is to Filipinos.  Let’s just say it’s very, very important.  But, saying so doesn’t really drive home the point.  It falls flat.  It doesn’t begin to hit the mark.

So, to give you an idea of how important rice is to Filipinos I figure it’s best to tell a story.  A true story.  One that I recall from a time before I even met my wife.  A story that will give you a much better idea of how important rice is to Filipinos.


Setting:  Church Banquet

Location:  Lowry AFB, Colorado, USA

Date:  Sometime in 1988, Sunday after church

I was standing at the door greeting guests as they arrived for our church banquet.  Two young Asian looking airmen entered and I gave them a warm welcome, “Come on in guys.  How are ya?”

“Oh, we’re fine sir.”  One of them murmured in a low tone of voice.

“How do you like being in the Air Force?  All going well for you?”  I continued trying to keep the conversation alive.

“Sir, we’re both from the Philippines.  We really like the Air Force.  It’s great.”  The other one answered this time with the same lack of enthusiasm; almost like he had it memorized; almost like a canned response to any officer who asks that question.

“Hey, are you guys hungry?”  I changed the subject to something more tangible – food.

This time both answered with enthusiasm, “Oh Yeah – we’re starving!”

“Well, help yourself to a plate then head over to the banquet table and dig in.”  I said with a spring in my voice as I pointed to the long row of tables piled high with food.  All kinds of food.  Roast beef, roast pork, fried chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, carrots, peas, corn, squash, butter, bread, coca cola, sprite, coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, and more and more and … more.

About 10 minutes later I bumped into the same two Filipino airmen and notice something very strange.  They managed to find the plates but somehow didn’t manage to find any food.  I found it odd; both standing several paces from the end of the banquet table holding their plates level to the ground waving them slowly from side to side – as if their plates were radar antennas tracking enemy aircraft.

I looked at them and they looked back at me.  They had the most serious expressions; focused; like wolves in the hunt.  I wondered what they were up to; after all, they told me they were hungry – and that was almost 10 minutes ago.  Now, I’m looking at them standing at the end of the banquet table – a table full of food – and both of them holding clean, barren, empty plates!

I approached the airmen and asked a most logical question, “I thought you guys said you were hungry?”

Their answer explained everything; explained the special relationship between Filipinos and food; Filipinos and eating.

Here’s what they said …

“We are hungry; very hungry.  But –

We’re looking for the rice.”

My jaw dropped.  It felt like I got shot with a stun gun.  I never expected that response.  I couldn’t relate.  My mind started racing; trying to work out what this meant.  Thoughts ran through my mind as follows:

  • “No rice.  So what?  There’s plenty of other food.”
  • “If you’re really hungry, then who cares if there’s no rice.”
  • “Big deal, there’s no brussel sprouts either, does that mean you don’t eat?”

That’s how I thought then, but not anymore.

I understand now.  Or, at least now I have a much better understanding of how important rice is to Filipinos.  Let me attempt to summarize as follows:

What’s the sense in eating if there’s no rice?

To Filipinos, every “real” meal is like this … you have rice and something that goes with the rice.  Filipinos even have a word that means “something that goes with the rice.”  The word is “ulam.”  So, when a Filipino asks “What’s for dinner?”  What they’re really asking is this … “What are you serving along with the rice?”

If you want to make a great impression, next time you invite a group of Filipinos over to watch Manny Pacquiao highlights, have a big batch of steamed rice cooking when they arrive.  And, when your Filipino friends ask “What have you got for ulam” just pick up the phone and call out for pizza.  Once you add rice … even pizza becomes Filipino food!

Photo:  Rice by Ruocaled on flickr

Previous Post

Want to see my Grandpa’s War Medals?

Next Post

Aussie Accent

Comments

  1. Nice Post Mr. Ives,
    I have seen something similar with our cousin John Myers who grew up in Indonesia. He was not a happy camper if there was no rice at mealtime.
    Chris Z.

    1. Thanks Chris. I’m getting that way now as well. I didn’t really like spam before but now that I’ve discovered you can eat it with rice – I love it!

Comments are closed.