I personally don’t like the feeling of greasy or soupy food in my hands. In the summers, I went home to Ilocos, my mother‘s hometown. I remember my cousins there laughed at me because I didn’t know the proper way to eat with my hands (agkammet). You have to the squeeze rice into a ball so that it’s easier to bring it to your mouth.
I understand about tradition getting lost (or suppressed?).
In fact, I was just asking my mom if she could share some of her family's traditions from when they were all in the Philippines (now most are in the US or Europe). I haven't heard back from her yet, but I will ask again. I want to write them down so my kids know about them.
1/ I never learned to eat with my hands, which is kinda embarrassing for me haha. I never saw my parents or relatives do it, but when we were very small we had helpers and they would eat with their hands. Once, on a field trip, we attended a Sagada wedding. Those occasions are full of food and they feed everyone -- even passersby like a bus of college kids HAHA. Let me tell you I was ~struggling~ to eat the adobo and rice and veggies with my hands, while all my classmates were doing it quite easily.
2/ When I was around 10, I saw an article in the newspaper about a Fil-Canadian boy, first-gen migrant, who was punished in school for eating with a spoon and fork! And that was the first time I realized that...not everyone eats with a spoon and fork?! Haha.
Here's to a very hands-on approach to connecting with our culture, Barb! :D
if it helps, think of it as a Japanese rice ball/small onigiri, or wear plastic gloves to get used to the motions minus the ick? joining 'budol fight' meals might also make it more fun and meaningful since that's communal!
i really don't know why it makes some food taste better, but i'm on the camp that it does. maybe because there's nostalgia in the mix lol this is how my dad would get us to finish our meals when we were kids. he would let us run around, then we'd make a stop every time we pass him and he'd pop a rice ball in our mouths :D
I love eating with my hands but I only do it if the meal is dry and if I am at home. it’s really icky for dishes with sauces. But sometimes I can get really lazy to do kamayan because I have to clean my hands really good after hahaha. So if I get lazy I just use spoon and fork even if it’s fried fish. It’s okay if you never do it. There are other Filipino practices you can try cultivate.
I personally don’t like the feeling of greasy or soupy food in my hands. In the summers, I went home to Ilocos, my mother‘s hometown. I remember my cousins there laughed at me because I didn’t know the proper way to eat with my hands (agkammet). You have to the squeeze rice into a ball so that it’s easier to bring it to your mouth.
Right! I just can’t lol
100% squeezing rice and ulam into a small ball then popping it into your mouth is the ultimate technique! :)))
I understand about tradition getting lost (or suppressed?).
In fact, I was just asking my mom if she could share some of her family's traditions from when they were all in the Philippines (now most are in the US or Europe). I haven't heard back from her yet, but I will ask again. I want to write them down so my kids know about them.
Take care, this feels hard (at least for me).
I hope you get what you’re looking for.
This reminds me of two anecdotes/vignettes!
1/ I never learned to eat with my hands, which is kinda embarrassing for me haha. I never saw my parents or relatives do it, but when we were very small we had helpers and they would eat with their hands. Once, on a field trip, we attended a Sagada wedding. Those occasions are full of food and they feed everyone -- even passersby like a bus of college kids HAHA. Let me tell you I was ~struggling~ to eat the adobo and rice and veggies with my hands, while all my classmates were doing it quite easily.
2/ When I was around 10, I saw an article in the newspaper about a Fil-Canadian boy, first-gen migrant, who was punished in school for eating with a spoon and fork! And that was the first time I realized that...not everyone eats with a spoon and fork?! Haha.
Here's to a very hands-on approach to connecting with our culture, Barb! :D
Thanks so much, Regina, and thanks for sharing these stories!
if it helps, think of it as a Japanese rice ball/small onigiri, or wear plastic gloves to get used to the motions minus the ick? joining 'budol fight' meals might also make it more fun and meaningful since that's communal!
i really don't know why it makes some food taste better, but i'm on the camp that it does. maybe because there's nostalgia in the mix lol this is how my dad would get us to finish our meals when we were kids. he would let us run around, then we'd make a stop every time we pass him and he'd pop a rice ball in our mouths :D
Your dad was smart!
I love eating with my hands but I only do it if the meal is dry and if I am at home. it’s really icky for dishes with sauces. But sometimes I can get really lazy to do kamayan because I have to clean my hands really good after hahaha. So if I get lazy I just use spoon and fork even if it’s fried fish. It’s okay if you never do it. There are other Filipino practices you can try cultivate.
I can eat lumpia with my hands lol
no other way 😉