Having influenced by various cultures for centuries, the Philippines' culture is a mix of things and is reflected on its arts and culinary traditions.
“Filipino food reflects the culture of the Filipinos,” said Barbara Delos Reyes. Filipino families, she said, are fond of having a mix of various dishes on one dining table and it reflects the hospitality of the Filipinos and the culture of close family ties. “When we eat in our homes, we are always together. Even in the past, Filipino families would sleep in the sala together. Even in public transport, right? And you don’t see these abroad. I think it’s so reflective of our food. If you eat nilagang baka, the meat, the vegetables, and soup are there. When Filipinos eat in parties all the varieties of dishes are there like adobo, kare-kare, sinigang,” she added.
Delos Reyes also mentioned that the country should promote its own cuisine because the Philippine culinary culture is internationally competitive, together with the arts and architecture. Barbara’s and Ilustrado both served the Kings and Queens of Spain and other officials and dignitaries of various countries and have been lauded for their excellent dishes and impeccable ambience. “We should let the Philippines’ cultural diversity be put on the spotlight through our cuisine. The adobo, for example, has a lot of variants that are as many as the country’s regions. No one can claim originality. No one can say which is the best one. But it is this very diversity, which we can promote,” Bea Pimentel-Aquino said. “Food from different regions represents who they are not only in their stature in the society but signify religion and beliefs as well,” the chef Carlo Santiago of Bayleaf Hotel Intramuros said.
