blog 03 assignment: vegetarian, humanitarian

A Filipino vegetarian is unheard of. (it's almost like an urban myth) The majority of our traditional dishes are meat based: Kare-kare (ox-tail), balut (duck fetus), dinuguan (blood stew).  In fact, the few vegetarian restaurants that exist in the Philippines are owned by Buddhists.  

As a tot, my parents tried to trigger my carnivore tendencies by slipping in a slab of pork or beef in my veggie platter.  Over the years, they've given up on this (futile) endeavor.  I don't attribute my vegetarianism to animal-rights or religious beliefs.  I just didn't like the taste.  This boggled just about everyone, not just my parents.  

My last trip to the Philippines was about 10 years ago, summer of '97.  It was my 10th year birthday celebration, the whole block of the neighborhood was decked out in streamers, everyone was invited.  Various dishes were lined up side by side: multi-colored sticky rice cakes, skewered meats marinated with sweet sauce, and Lechon (roasted pig) in the center.  The only vegetable-based dished was coated in a salty shrimp paste.

I sat rooted to the main table with an empty plate in front of me.  Unknowingly, this caused my parents to loose face in front of the invitees.  Abstaining from eating during a celebration can be interpreted as condescension.  Later, I was reprimanded in front of the guests, by my parents.    

Years later, I was told that most of the people invited to the party were street kids and low income families.  I asked my mum, "If you knew that, why not order at least a vegetarian dish, as well?"

"How many impoverished vegetarians do you know?"