Litratong Pinoy: nang matapos (when it's over)

Dito nagsimula ang magandang samahan...sa isang salo-salo.

Nang matapos ang kainan, ito na lang ang natira---alaala ng masarap na pagkain at masayang kwentuhan. Medyo may pawis pa, himas-himas ang tyan habang nagto-tooth pick ng pinutol na ting-ting.:D

Ito ang masarap na kainan---hindi nagmamadali, ninanamnam ang bawat nguya at tinataguyod ang ating kultura ng pakikisama at pagtitipon-tipon.

Talagang pinagbubuklod tayo ng pagkain...mahirap man o mayaman, lahat tayo nag-eenjoy sa ganitong bonding. At naniniwala ako na gumaganda ang samahan kapag sabay-sabay tayong kumakain. Sa pamilya man, sa magkaibigan, sa magkatrabaho, kahit sa taong di kakilala---ang pagsasalo-salu sa hapag-kainan ay bumubuo ng pagkakaisa at maayos na pagsasamahan. Ang sabi nga lola ko, kahit tuyo lang ang ulam basta pinaghahatian, parang fiesta na rin. At totoo nga, hindi lang sa sarap ng pagkain, kundi sa sarap ng samahan ang nagbubuklod sa ating mga Pinoy.

When it's all over, this is what remains---remnants of good food and fond memories of sharing it with people we care about. Perhaps sweating a little, and affectionately massaging the tummy while using a tooth-pick picked from a coconut broomstick.:p

I love eating like this---unhurried...food is savored, not devoured. It promotes appreciation of food and the cultural experience of shared meals.

Food certainly brings people together...it's our common ground, a universal experience. And I'm a firm believer that eating together promotes harmonious relationships. Whether in a family, in friendships, in the work place, even with strangers---sharing a meal develops unity and a congenial connection with people. My grandmother used to say that it felt like fiesta when the family eats together at dinnertime, even when we were eating dried fish. Indeed, it's not how great or expensive the food is, it's the genuine caring and vibrant relationships that bond Filipinos.

salo-salo together

Posted for Litratong Pinoy