Nathan Allen Responds to Agness Walewinder's Offensive Article About Filipino Street Foods

Five Days ago, a Blogger and at the same time traveller from Poland, Agness Walewinder, posted an article in her blog with an offensive title of "I Would Rather Go Hungry Than Eat Filipino Street Food Again!" And as expected, as one of the Social Media Users of Asia, Filipinos shared the article and responded in positive and negative way. But what caught our attention the most is Nathan Allen's Response To "I'd Rather Go Hungry" Girl's article and to note, they are both foreigners but Nathan's way of writing is done professionally. Now, check some highlights below.

Agness Walewinder, blogger of etramping.com

Agness wrote, "The biggest disappointment was not trying traditional Filipino dishes. Why? We simply could not find them! We visited enormous amount of local food stands and restaurants asking for balut, adobo, asado, daing and more and we we have heard was “Not here. We have some fish and fried pork only.”, “Do you want to try noodles instead?”, “We have some boiled eggs”. So, so disappointing!"

Nathan responded, "You admit that you weren't able to sample the best the country has to offer, so how is it fair to say you'd rather go HUNGRY than eat Filipino food again?  Don't you think that's a bit extreme?  I'd call it borderline unethical.  "

Nathan Allen, Blogger of  www.idreamedofthis.com

Agness wrote, "The Filipino food is packed with salt, sugar and oil. The meat we were served was soaking in oil, the fish that supposed to be grilled was full of oil and veggies we wanted to try contained more oil than the fattest meat we saw there. As we know, oil makes you feel so tired and slows your metabolism down. After having a few small Filipino lunches, we felt bloated and tired and we could tell it was the food."

"We not only started feeling fat (literally), but also suffered from stomachache and diarrhea. I had a massive migraine, mood swings and heartbum caused by spicy and oily pork."

Nathan responded, "I'm no expert...and forgive me for saying this, but based on the symptoms you have described, it appears you might have been experiencing PMS during your stay in the Philippines.  You certainly don't look very happy in the black and white photo at the top of your post.  The tone and mood of your post seems a bit irritable also, so it would make sense if you were uncomfortable during your stay in the country."

Agness wrote, "We asked for traditional Filipino breakfast when in Pagudpud. This is what we were served – a bunch of fruits, coffee with milk and some cakes filled with jam. Is this what locals eat in the morning?"


Nathan's long response (below)

Me?  Once I made an effort to get "off the beaten path", I found that traditional Filipino food was in fact quite unique and delicious!  My love affair started when I collected fresh clams with a family in Palawan.  They made halaan sa tanglad (ginger clam soup).  Next I got hooked on tocino each morning for breakfast, fresh, delicious mangos for (part of my) lunch, and tangy sinigang soup for dinner.  From there I went to the BBQ stalls of Cebu and enjoyed puso (hanging rice) and of course adobo, lechon, crispy pata...and lastly: pork afritada and mechado (two of my favorites).

Oh, and Agness, I have two words for you:  HALO HALO.


Nathan's advices to Agness? Here below...

I say come back (just don't tell people who you are:)  Give it more time, explore the country more fully, and with an open mind.  I'm glad you acknowledge that it's one of the most beautiful places you've ever been.  On closer inspection you just might find that this admiration extends to the people and food as well...I know it did for me!

Filipinos are wonderful people...so wonderful, in fact, that there is a good chance they will let you come back - just to prove you wrong about their culinary heritage :)



And to end up this special post, below are the amazing lines from Nathan that makes Pinoy proud of what we really are and what we can give to the world.

A screenshot of Nathan's article featuring Cebu's Puso (Hanging Rice)

Aside from all that, I would give you more credit if your observations resembled the actual reality of being a foreign tourist in the Philippines.  It pains me to read how you describe Filipino people and cuisine.

If You Don't Want to be Treated Like a Tourist, Stop Acting Like One

As you should know, if you want the "real deal", you must escape the tourists (and vendors who sell to them).  It's simple.  "Street food" in the Philippines is not the enemy, and I don't believe you have to go to fancy traditional Filipino restaurants to get great food.

Oh, and Agness, I have two words for you:  HALO HALO.


I know it's not fair to compare my experience to yours, because it seems you may have only been in the country for a week or so.  However, your short stay is exactly why I (and many others) hope you will be more careful with the "impressions" that you put out into the world in the future. 



ABOUT THE BLOGGERS


Nathan Allen is a hyper-observant culture-junkie who recently spent a year documenting and living in the Philippines.  A long-term traveler, he lives by the motto "spend less, see more"

Agness Walewinder is a 23-year-old Pole and University graduate in English and Spanish language from Poland.

Posted in: Agness Walewinder,Bloggers,Filipino Food,I'd Rather Go Hungry,Nathan Allen,Street Filipino Food,Street Food