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18 | FireFlyz
WANDER
FireFlyz explores a fewspots in the Philippines, home to over 100million Filipinos.
Philippines: Archipelago of Adventure
W
ith
three centuries of Spanish rule and 50 years of American influence, the Philippines archipelago
comprises 300,000 km of land across over 7,000 islands filled with a hodgepodge of subcultures,
ethnicities, religions, and languages.
Though diverse in population, the mix of Spanish colonial history and strong American
influence has made the Philippines truly a unique country attempting to express a singular yet
personal cultural identity through artistically creative means such as music, dance, and art.
Filipinos are at their core, soulful, emotional people with a cultural love for socialisation
(
sosyalan
), dance, and music, exemplified in a multitude of art forms such as in handicraft, design, fashion, artistic
festivals, events, and street parties.
Eat
Sisig
Filipinos love their pork and find in-
novative ways to make use of every part
of the pig.
Sisig
is made primarily with
pig’s liver and head, including the snout,
and usually seasoned with calamansi
and chili peppers. Originally invented by
the late Lucia Cunanan, known fondly
as Lucing in some quarters,
Sisig
can
function as both an appetizer and a main
dish. Modern interpretations of the dish
have transitioned to healthier seafood
combinations using squid, tuna, milkfish
and mussels.
Adobo
While the word ‘adobo’ means marinade
in Spanish, ‘Adobo’ as used in the Philip-
pines refers to a meat dish prepared in
this particular style. Adobo-style dishes
are marinated in a sauce of vinegar, soy
sauce and garlic, browned in oil, and
simmered in the marinade. Typically, pork
and chicken are used in Adobo dishes,
but it can extend to fish and vegetables as
well. Referred to as the national dish by
plenty, you will always be able to find this
dish almost anywhere in the Philippines.
Travel
Jeepney
A portmanteau of ‘jeep’ and ‘jitney’,
Jeepneys are the most popular form of
transportation in the Philippines due to
its affordability and efficiency. You can
easily recognise a Jeepney by the kitsch,
but unique art adorning every conceiv-
able square inch of the vehicle’s facade.
Originally, Jeepneys were made from U.S
Military jeeps left over fromWorldWar II,
but it has become a cultural icon of the
Philippines and led to the commercial
manufacturing of stock Jeepneys. With
the pressure of environmental strain
caused by Jeepneys, second and third
generation Jeepneys have surfaced, with
better, more modern parts that are more
fuel efficient, comfortable, air-conditioned
and less environmentally taxing.
Adventure
KatibawasanFalls, Camiguin
Within the Bohol Sea lies Camiguin, a
lush island province approximately 10
km off the northern coast of Mindanao.
Bestowed with nature’s bountiful beauty
and wonders, Camiguin is rustically
Sisig
Jeepney