Filipino Cuisine

On the subject of food, we will discuss Filipino cuisine. The Philippines, archipelago of 7000 islands has been influenced throughout history by other cultures. This is reflected in its diverse cuisine, varying from province to province.

The obvious Southeast Asian flair hints towards its geographical location. However, it departs from Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Vietnamese food because of its history as a Spanish colony. For around 300 years, the Spaniards carried out their Christian missions and used the bountiful resources on the islands. Numerous recipes recall the Spanish days of conquest; just as many words were borrowed from Castilian (modern day Spanish), so too were many cooking styles.

Map of Southeast Asia


Fast-forward to modern day Philippines, where the American influence is ever so strong, with Jeepneys as transportation, the likes of which originated from US military buses from WWII. A very Westernized country (or at least its major city centers), the Philippines offers its own version of many North American dishes.



Filipinos are known for their ability to create their own renditions on other cultures' creations, while at the same time maintaining their own separate culture.

Filipino dishes - not only do they show the historical and geographical situation of the country but they also reflect domestic distinctions, from coastal to inland.



Future posts will be dedicated to the wide variety of Filipino dishes.