Filipino Blogging Day #7: Pako

Edible ferns, or pako in Tagalog, are eaten with other fruits and vegetables in the Philippines. Vinaigrette and seasonings can also be added to fern salads for more taste. Only very little species of ferns can be eaten, so the Filipinos in the mountains have to be careful to pick which ferns they put in their dishes.

Filipino Blogging Day #6: Suman

Suman is the Philippine version of rice cake. It is made out of sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and is wrapped in young palm / banana leaves. It is eaten with sugar to add to the flavor. There are many varieties of suman. Some of them are suman sa binuo, suman sa ibus, suman sa inantala, sumang kamoteng kahoy, and suman wilmacale.

Filipino Blogging Day #5: Liempo

Liempo is an all-time Filipino favorite. This dish is actually just grilled pork usually eaten with vinegar. Liempo is usually prepared when there are outdoor activities like camping, barbecue parties, and more. Filipinos like eating it with their hands (kamayan). They enjoy eating their food like that. Though simple and cheap, liempo has a heavenly, appetizing flavor and aroma.

Filipino Blogging Day #4: Pinakbet

Pinakbet is a Ilocano dish known throughout the Philippine archipelago. It consists of vegetables like snake beans (sitaw), bittermelon (ampalaya), okra, squash and eggplant with shrimp paste (bagoong). It is also cooked with beef, pork, chicken or shrimp. It is a healthy and delicious dish, so it is eaten by many Filipinos nationwide.

Filipino Blogging Day #3: Chicharon

Chicharon is a crunchy, salty, fried Philippine treat. It is normally made of pork skin, but can be made of chicken, fish and carabao skin, too. Filipinos like dipping chicharon in vinegar with chopped onions and chili peppers. Even though it is delicious, it is also very unhealthy. Don't eat too much. It's bad for your heart!

Filipino Blogging Day #2: Adobo

Adobo is a common Philippine dish known throughout the archipelago. Adobo is usually made of beef, chicken or pork. There are many unique versions. It can be cooked in soy sauce, coconut milk, and more. It is so popular in the Philippines that it is even sold in sari-sari stores in plastic bags! It is a cheap but flavorful dish loved by Filipinos everywhere, no matter where they are.

Filipino Blogging Day #1: Sago't Gulaman

Sago't gulaman is a very popular drink from the Philippines made of water with caramelized sugar, sago, and gulaman (as the name suggests). It can be either a beverage or a dessert. In local sari-sari stores, vendors usually put the sago't gulaman in a plastic bag with a straw. On the other hand, in restaurants, it is placed in a glass with a spoon.