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| I had a conversation with a friend in Philippines. Nel is a good friend who met me on my trip there. I still keep several friends in Republik ng Pilipinas and I'm happy to know them. I told Nel about my previous attempt to translate and understnad the word ULAM and this conversation is the result. Contact names removed at her request. You can contact me here. I hope this helps Americans understand Philippines cooking better. It has helped me.
G: I had a laugh learning the definition of ulam
Nel: you dont know ulam? its viand- the rice partner.
G: yes the dictionary give the term viand.
G: but I am not using it here
G: so i get an English dictionary
G: it said "food eaten with rice" . And I thought about the Philippines. Is there any food that is not eaten with rice?
Nel: what do you commonly use for viand
Nel: aha let me think
Nel: pancit, you eat it alone no need for rice
G: Ah, maybe pancit is not ulam. It has so many noodles, no need for rice.
Nel: yes, this snack food
G: the dictionaries made me think there is two categories for food. There is rice. There is everything else.
Nel: yes... many foods
G: Maybe the word ulam is testimony about the love of rice.
Nel: i dont know about that, i was born with that ulam thing and had never tried to research on that.
Nel: generally ulam is for rice or any grains food
G: I see. It is a filipino word, so you must be right about it
G: I think we could consider rice to be a grain, so ulam is grain?
G: I had to search further, because not many people use viand here
Nel: nope, grains is like solid something or granules/
G: hm, not like corn or wheat.
Nel: corn and wheat and others rice belong to category-grain or cereal
G: Yes that's right. Maybe I'm still confused. they are all cereals yes.
Nel: yes, now you know..hahaha
G: I never found a more general word. the catch for all things edible in english is food.
G: what about in Philippines?
Nel: the same, anything that is edible is food.
Nel: it can be raw or anything
Nel: in any form
Nel: that is food
G: ok so you are using the word food too
Nel: yes
Nel: but we are specific on what kind of food
G: ulam is solid things granules, sometimes the form that grains or cereals take.
G: common question about lunch is : what was your food?
Nel: food is pagkain- something edible
G: I want to post this on xanga, but I will remove your yahoo name.
Nel: ulam is viand or rice partner
G: rice partner is the best translation I have seen.
Nel: yes
G: I had written a previous conversation about my attempt to understand the word ulam. it will make a nice update
Nel: when you say food that's generic.
G: We have use for very generic words at times.
G: the english dictionary has it right. viand : food eaten with rice.
Nel: yehee!!!
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| There is a name Giesyl, but I will say no more about it.
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This is a house party. This long rectangular house is divided into four units. The front unit looks nice, but was vacant as we lived there. When they heard I visited from America, they cooked traditional foods and welcomed me. It was a great time to meet a few dozen people, and I didn't know many. But, I did meet them several times in February and March. Their home may not be American standard, but the concrete wall is decorated with beach pebbles and they have the nicest glass windows that open like horizontal blinds. This is the first time I saw a whole fish dipped in batter and fried. It's very simple .. absolutely no processing! They served caldaretta, bangus, and a few other things. I can't name all these people. I wish I could. I may never see them again.
Question. One finds he has enough money to go back to Philippines. However, a few weeks ago, his best reason for going back is taken away. What would be a new reason? Should he go back ? I don't want to teach English this time. I simply want to be a tourist. But, as things are, I can't go back at this time. My dad is ill. He is the priority.
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| I must tell you something. The relationship is over. Genalyn and I have seperated, ended the promise of marriage, and gone our seperate ways. Often, humans guide towards madness rather than logic. Often, we can't see the difference between the two. If you haven't heard the reasons why this seperation occured, this is not the place to ask. If necessary, I pass that information in private Suffice it to say, we are not made for each other, and there is no point in reuniting. We ended the relationship in mid February 2009. Yes, it was a horrid Valentine's day; then again, V-Day itself is a vapid concept, so that's no big loss.
My new direction is to create a written memory of my time in Philippines. I will post random events, memories, photos of my trip, and recall what I can, while I can. I have few people who talk to me and know these events personally. So, I must preserve a unique experience. If you are from the Philippines, have family there, have been there, please comment your experiences too. I want to know what you saw in the Philippines. We can compare notes.
Let's not focus on high praise (that's the job of Wow Philippines) and let's not trash the country. The loss of relationship and the madness of the world economy say there is less chance of returning to the Philippines, but I still keep my desire.
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| Mga aso nasa loob at nasa labas. In English it means the dogs are in and out.
Nasaan is a word that means where ? Example Nasaan ang aking nanay? Where is your mother?
loob means inside. layob means outside. I write that sentence to say the dogs are going in, going out, back and forth. The dogs need a revolving door.
I had a laugh with a Filipino. We talked about ulam. It translates literally to viand. The problem is, in USA, nobody uses the word viand. So i dig further. Ulam is food eaten with rice. My Filipino friend says it's important to remember that pinoys eat rice with everything. Therefore, I claim that the word ulam can mean every kind of food that pinoys eat. hahaha !! What is the use of a word meaning "food eaten with rice" when all food is eaten with rice? Hmm, maybe not leche plan. My fiancee did not eat rice with leche plan, but it is palatable if desired.
The Filipino friend birdie said " It is important to know what food the ulam is. "
Ask this : Ano ang aking ulam ngayon? What is your food today?
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