How Does Jannine Affect Filipino Culture

On 10 September 14, 2016, I sat down with Jannine Clare Sazon Mendioro in a Starbucks and spent 45 minutes interviewing Jannine about her food culture. Jannine is a recent immigrant to the United States, she immigrated with her mother about 7 years ago in 2009. However, her father and brother immigrated few years earlier than she did. Jannine is Filipino and her religious affiliation is roman catholic. According to Jannine, her religious affiliation does not affect her food habits too much. In an other hand, Filipino culture does greatly affect Jannine’s food habits. However, since Philippines is a predominantly roman catholic country, a lot of Filipino cultures either have Christian root or influence by Christian. During the interview, Jannine …show more content…
Rice have been grown and eaten daily by Filipinos over thousands of years. In Filipinos culture, they eat rice almost every meal except during merienda. The main flavor for Filipinos is umami, which is a rich, savory, and meaty flavor. The main way that Filipinos make such flavor is via the use of patis, which is a clear amber-colored fish sauce. Jannine says that Filipinos used patis as often as Chinese use soy sauce. Jannine says that Filipinos also eat a lot of meat and seafood. From the interview, I get the feeling that meat is complementary foods for Filipinos since Jannine says that almost all Filipinos main dishes have meat in them. In addition, seafood is more like secondary core foods for Filipinos. Lechon, a roasted whole pig is a symbolic food in Filipino culture. It is usually served in a big occasions or parties. Jannine thinks it symbolize wealth, prosperity, and social status. Another symbolic food is not broken or cut noodles serving in birthday. In Filipino culture (also in Chinese culture as well), noodles symbolize prosperity, long life, and good …show more content…
According to Jannine, the reason is that food is harder to reach here in the United States. In the Philippines, restaurants open late and they deliver for free. Also there’s always a small store around the corner and there’s street vendors who walks around. Jannine says that food access in the United States is inconvenient compared to the Philippines or in Asia in general. Traditionally all meals for Jannine must consist of one main dish and rice. But now for Jannine, a lunch meal that she eats outside of her house anything feeling and not sweet. It could be a plate of noodles, a sandwich or a plate of fried rice. Until today, Jannine still eat more her own culture food and she barely eat “American” food. However, Jannine does eat a lot of differentces of Asian cuisine. Jannine believe that the changes in her food culture is mostly due to modern life. When Jannine were still in the Philippine, she, her friends and many younger Filipinos would usually eat at least one meal a day that is non-traditional