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Anthony Bourdain shows a slice of Filipino life in Parts Unknown Manila episode


Aside from featuring Philippine culinary treats, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown showed a slice of Filipino character in the kickoff episode of its 7th season.

“Filipinos are probably the most giving people on the planet,” the world-renowned chef and TV host said.

The premiere episode of CNN’s award-winning travelogue focused on traditional Filipino customs as Bourdain explored and tasted some of the delicacies Manila has to offer.

The episode was taped last Christmas -- a perfect timing for Bourdain to experience the culture behind what is considered as the longest Yuletide season in the world.

"I would lose my mind,” Bourdain said, caught in awe at the fact that Pinoys usually start the holiday season as the first -Ber month sets in.

During Bourdain’s immersion in a local pub, office Christmas party and carinderias among others, he espied more about Pinoys and their hospitality.

“Filipinos love feeding people,” Bourdain exclaimed as he chomped on the freshly cooked chicken pork adobo with his newly-found friends, the members of Keystone underground band.

 

 

Over lunch served with chilled beer, the group talked about Pinoy’s love of singing.

“Everybody loves to sing,” the band told Bourdain in unison, “They don’t necessarily have to be in tune.”

And as they finished their servings of adobo, Bourdain could not help but ask who makes the best adobo.

To which all replied, “Moms.”

 

 

Meanwhile, it came as a surprise when Bourdain mentioned sisig as a street food. Often served as pulutan, sisig is mainly composed of chopped pig’s face, tossed with ample amount of onions and pepper. This sizzled spicy dish is often topped with freshly cracked egg.

“Possibly the best thing you could ever eat with a cold beer," Bourdain said.

He then tried another staple street food — the halo-halo.

 

 

“It's wondrous. I don't even know what half of these ingredients are. I mean it's delicious but how is it made? What's in it?" Bourdain said, marvelling the magic mixing Jell-o with fruits, shaved ice and milk can do.

But more sweeter than halo-halo, Bourdain admired the unwavering smile of Pinoys despite their poverty.

 

 

"There's a lot of poverty in this city for sure, but there's not a sense of hopelessness or rage. They decorate. They may not have much, but they decorate. They sweep the street," Bourdain said.

For Bourdain, this episode, more than a showcase of Filipino customs, is a tribute to overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

In an essay he penned for CNN, he wondered why Filipinos care so much not just for each other but for strangers.

“Hundreds of thousands -- maybe millions -- of children have been raised by Filipino nannies. Usually mothers of their own children who they were forced to leave behind in the Philippines,” he said.

He added, “Doctors, nurses, housekeepers, babysitters, in so many cases, people who you'd call "caregivers" but who, in every case I've ever heard of, actually care. Where does this kindness, this instinct for charity come from?”

In the episode, Bourdain visited an OFW named Aurora as her family feast on kare-kare for lunch.

Aurora had been back in the country for over three years now after spending more than 30 years as OFW.  As it turned out, one of the producers of the show, Erik Osterholm, was raised by Aurora herself when she was working abroad.

Bourdain, then reads a letter from Erik to Aurora.

“I am 100 percent the man I man today because this woman raised me from when I was 6 months old, singing to me, dancing with me, wiping away my tears, cooking for me, and making me laugh at every turn...There are literally thousands of people around the world, me included, who have been influenced by her endless kindness and love.” the letter reads.

"Filipinos give of themselves, of their time, their money, their love to others. They do and continue to do what needs to be done to survive," Bourdain said.

More than the food, Bourdain sure has experienced a slice of Filipino life in his short trip in the country.

“I hope the overseas Filipinos and our fans in the Philippines like this episode more than they liked the last one on our other show. This is certainly not the definitive show on the Philippines -- and it will not be our last show there,” the chef said in his essay. — APG, GMA News

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