The Taro and Ube flavors have recently broken into the western food industry however, a lot of people still still wonder: Aren’t they the same? The answer is, they’re not and it is often a misconception among people, including Filipino-Americans themselves. But while taro is grown and enjoyed across four different continents, Ube is extremely unique to the Philippines, best known for being one of the delicious features of a Halo-Halo. Both of these root vegetables are currently becoming more common in America’s line of desserts. However, there is also a visible detachment of these flavors from their people. Does this mean a culture’s cuisine can actually be separated from the culture itself?
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Is it ironic that many of us who are medical professionals also come from superstitious households? Not exactly. When you’re a Filipino, your family probably has an unconventional solution to every health problem. Remember when you’d have the slightest of coughs or even just a second of dizziness and your lola would already be at your side with a warm cup of ginger tea? Or how you’d get reprimanded that showering immediately after a long day would give you spasms? Well these tactics aren’t as unfounded as they may seem. While jumping at new year’s eve to grow taller or eating Pancit for longer life have no scientific basis—at least not directly—our elderly relatives’ approaches to taking care of your health are actually practices passed down for generations which have come to be known as “folk healing”.
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(A response to the "Op-Ed: How Indigenous Filipinos are Erased from FAHM and Why You Need to Do Better")
I have watched the reaction of community members unfold in response to Margaret Palaghicon Von Rotz's recent op-ed piece, published on One Down, and while I am heartened to see her so passionately embrace her Indigenous roots, I find gaps in her approach in this discussion and want to encourage a broader community discourse--one without threat of erasure, blocking, or cancellation.
So, thank you, One Down, for providing this platform and opportunity.
Read MoreHave you ever seen Filipino cultural dances like this!?
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