Singapore's salted egg chips now mass produced in PH

The salted egg chips craze started in Singapore and eventually, certain parts of the world (like the Philippines) caught on. 

But let's face it. It's an acquired taste for some people. When we decided to send salted egg chips to a relative in the United States, he didn't exactly go crazy over it. From what I heard, he didn't even finish the chips. 

However, there are certain foodies who are somewhat addicted to the chips. There are many brands to choose from. 

In the Philippines, there are a lot of local entrepreneurs who have also followed the trend. So not all the chips come from Singapore. 

For the imported variety, it is usually a toss up between Irvin's or Golden Duck.

During a recent visit to Chinatown in Singapore, we tried Hu Zhen Long's Golden Crispy Salted Egg Fish Skin (around SGD20). 

There wasn't much flavor until we reached the bottom of the canister where we found most of the egg yolk goodness. 

Golden Duck (around SGD8) is still a favorite.

The chips are thinly sliced and the flavors are well coordinated. It is rich and creamy. It is hard to finish one whole pack because of the high calorie content. It is meant to be shared.

Local brands have cropped up in bazaars, usually selling slightly cheaper than the Singapore brands. 

Then, Stips Chips started appearing in groceries selling for roughly half the cost of the imported brands. 

Recently, Oishi Gourmet Picks salted egg potato chips (around P39) appeared in grocery shelves.

While obviously using cheaper ingredients, the brand has managed to copy the salted egg flavor. It comes close to the flavor of the local version Stips Chips.

So what does this mean for the Philippine cottage industry of salted egg chips?

At some point, there will be local brands that will naturally die out given the stiff competition. 

Golden Duck and Irvin's have already created a name for themselves. It appears that their regular customers may not be price sensitive. 

However, the Singapore brands would need to watch out for other food trends that could take away their established market share. 

Oishi reaches out to another group. For those who cannot afford to buy the more expensive imported variety on a regular basis, this brand gives consumers the opportunity to give in to their cravings at a such a sweet price.

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Just this year, the Singapore Straits Times conducted a blind tasting of 17 brands of salted egg yolk potato chips and fish skin. 

"It was not the popular brands that came up tops. The top spot for the fish skin went to East Ocean Teochew Restaurant at Ngee Ann City, while new snack brand Aunty Esther's ranked No.1 for the potato chips."

https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/salted-egg-snack-attack

Sometimes, you just have to try different brands until you find the one that you like...

Review: Crazy Rich Asians Movie

The facade is Asian but the heart of this movie is American.

One of the movie’s highlights includes a mahjong scene. Its significance is perhaps not lost among Asians. 

Rachel Chu purposely gives up her concealed “chow” (set of three tiles with consecutive numbers) and Nick Young’s mother wins the game. 

In a matriarchal Asian family, the queen of the household is often given deference. So, this scene tries to convey Rachel’s consideration for Nick’s family. In Asia, marrying a man usually means getting along with his whole family as well.

There has been a lot of buzz about the movie’s box office success and what it means to Asian-Americans. It is touted as a movie that generally represents Asians in Hollywood since the cast looks mostly Asian.

While the case for Asian representation may be a step forward from a business perspective, it is also important to understand the movie’s overall message and what values it wishes to convey or teach.

The lead characters Nick and Rachel espouse the liberal American lifestyle that includes sleeping together and kissing in public. In many parts of Asia, this kind of behavior is not acceptable. In certain Asian cultures, there is also a ritual for courtship and marriage. The way that Americans define love may not necessarily apply to Asian sensibilities. 

The film depicts a typical onscreen American love story or what others would call a Cinderella story. Clearly, the movie has some loose threads that need to be tied up. 

For example, it is not apparent how a tourist like Rachel suddenly decides to meet Nick’s mother in the mahjong place with two deaf women beside them, discussing about the most private things. If you were talking to your future mother-in-law about intimate details, I don’t think you would want anyone in the room, no matter how deaf or mute they are.

It is also surprising that Rachel Chu seems unaffected by the immense wealth of her boyfriend. 

Nick also seemed too ready to give up everything for Rachel, including his fortune. Plus, he wears his heart on his sleeve. In reality, many Asian men don’t reveal their emotions openly (definitely not while boarding a plane) and they will not just give up their inherited wealth, unless perhaps the relationship has already been tested with fire for many years.

So in this regard, the movie seems to have applied the American formula for a love story using Asia society as a backdrop. Plus, the lead characters are genuinely Americanized Asians. 

The movie skimmed through a few food and wealth scenes but did not elaborate on culture and arts. Apart from a feature on dumplings and hawker food stalls, the famous chilli crab or one of Singapore’s festivals could have been included. I don’t recall seeing those at length.

Overall, the movie attempts to entertain through the senses. It was classified as a romantic comedy but the movie is more a love story, with a few laughs in between.

The story is not realistic and had a lot of unanswered questions. Rating it from a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), I would give the movie a 3 (average).

MTRCB rating: PG-13

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Other stories:

Crazy Rich Asians rated PG-13 for obscene wealth...

https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-rated-pg-13-for.html


Insanely Rich Pinoys...

https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-rated-pg-13-for.html

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The movie was highly reminiscent of our recent visit to Singapore. Sharing some stories here.

The memorable chilli crab...

https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/05/singapores-chili-crab-origin-traced.html

Chicken rice hawker stalls...

https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/03/singapores-chicken-rice-tian-tian-vs-ah.html

And not to forget, Chinatown...

https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/07/chinatown-singapore-is-worth-visit.html

Insanely Rich Pinoys

The movie “Crazy Rich Asians” includes a small part for Pinoy (slang for Filipino) actress Kris Aquino who was dubbed by a Hollywood actor as the really crazy rich Asian, having brought a ton of assistants to the set. The original number was pegged at a staff of eighteen until Aquino clarified that she brought only eight of them. 

https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-rated-pg-13-for.html

Many rich Pinoys, like Aquino, bring personal assistants wherever they go, much to the chagrin of the more independent Western counterpart. 

Of course, eight assistants for a minor role seem staggering but Aquino played her Hollywood part to the hilt, complete with designer gown and jewelry. 

The world took notice of her attention-grabbing canary yellow gown that was reminiscent of her mother Cory Aquino’s political color.

In the Philippines, wealth is sometimes synonymous with politics. 

The most well-known of course is Imelda Marcos who once said that it’s good that people saw shoes in her closet and not skeletons. 

"She was later quoted as saying: "They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-02/imelda-marcos-shoe-museum:-the-excess-of-a-regime/7877098

There are news reports circulating that her son Bongbong Marcos is aiming for the presidency. At least for now, people seem to have forgotten the past because the populace has not made much noise about it.

"My career is politics, and, of course, you aspire to as high a stature within your chosen field as you can achieve — and that would be president in my case," he said.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/21/18/bongbong-marcos-eyes-philippine-presidency

Kevin Kwan cited Heart Evangelista as one of the crazy rich Asians. 

http://entertainment.inquirer.net/288796/heart-evangelista-named-one-real-crazy-rich-asians

Evangelista is an actress and artist who married Senator Chiz Escudero. Interested readers can find her wealth on display usually in her Instagram account. She is known to patronize Hermès and other high-end brands. She is also a very talented artist who gets commissioned to paint on Birkin bags.

https://www.wheninmanila.com/look-heart-evangelista-paints-on-old-dress-for-senate-event/

Her wedding video can be viewed on YouTube. It was an extravagant affair held in the exclusive island Balesin and even had firecrackers to celebrate the occasion (as shown in the video).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae7xQHS0h4Y

During a TV interview with Solita Monsod, she asked the couple how they could afford such an expensive wedding when Escudero claimed to be one of the lowest paid politicians and is a government official.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r95zCKj4Z3E

The Escudero couple explained that Heart’s TV station sponsored most of the expense and that they spent only around P2 million (roughly USD40,000) that Monsod estimated to be around 1/3 of total cost. They also clarified that one way they saved money was to use fake flowers.

Fake flowers??? An insanely rich Pinoy will probably buy the freshest imported flowers available! 

If that’s the case, perhaps Heart is not a crazy rich Asian after all, as noted by Kevin Kwan.

There is something about the scandalous that certain insanely rich Pinoys delight in. Perhaps it applies to other rich people whatever the nationality. 

In the Philippines, however, there is also constant documentation of excess through never ending selfie promotion. Of course, this behavior does not apply to everyone, only the truly outrageous.

A distinction also needs to be made on those who want to appear rich versus those who are truly wealthy. 

One lady loves to show her pictures attending endless parties while her maid slaves it out washing clothes by hand because a washing machine is not available in the household. It’s a form of hard labor in this modern century when a good machine can be bought for P10,000 (around USD200) or even less. Attending a single dinner party at a five-star hotel can cost just as much.

There is a wide disparity of wealth among Pinoys that is hard to ignore. Domestic helpers don’t always get the once a week day off that they deserve, thus making them practically slaves to their employers.

A few insanely rich Pinoys bring along their maids to hotels or restaurants, only to make the maids appear like decorations while the bosses chow down their meal. These maids watch their employers eat without being offered a single morsel of food. 

In a Christian country like the Philippines, there is also what is known as the religious rich. 

Among wealthy churches, one may also find art auctions and classical concerts combined with religiousity. Maybe there is room for appreciation as long as it is not the priest or pastor who is enriching his pocket.

When it comes to marriage, the rich Fiipino wedding is a stuff of fairy tales, as many families spare no expense. The bride’s designer of choice usually creates gowns for the women in the whole entourage and the event is a spectacle that can rival foreign counterparts. 

During the wedding of Irene Marcos (daughter of Imelda), I remember seeing her ride the Filipino version of a horse-drawn carriage. The whole televised affair was likened to the wedding of England’s Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

There are many more stories but little space. Perhaps this topic deserves another novel.

Compared to the Singaporeans, however, the Filipino culture has its own distinctive notes. Thus, if I were to write a Filipino version of “Crazy Rich Asians,” the whole narrative would definitely come out differently.

Crazy Rich Asians rated PG-13 for obscene wealth

A New York Times review rated the movie PG-13 for obscene wealth. Usually, films display violence or sex. So this warning seems unusual.

"Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time. It is an unabashed celebration of luxury and money, with hints of class conflict that have more to do with aspiration than envy or anger, set in an Asia miraculously free of history or politics."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/movies/crazy-rich-asians-review.html

The movie is still about to be shown in the Philippines on August 22, 2018. The official MTRCB rating has yet to be released.

There has been some local controversy on the limited role that Kris Aquino played in the movie. One Hollywood actor commented that she was the real crazy rich Asian having brought eighteen assistants to the set. However, Kris Aquino clarified that she only brought eight helpers with her.

https://push.abs-cbn.com/2018/8/6/fresh-scoops/kris-aquino-nilinaw-kung-ilan-ang-kanyang-entourag-188900

The movie was already shown in the United States and it got mixed reviews. It has been a highly anticipated movie because of the Asian cast in Hollywood.

"But Crazy Rich Asians is distracted by its extravagance and rooted in a contrived scenario that renders our leading characters either foolish or callous right off the bat. It also ends on a note that doesn't really resolve any of the pressing issues at its core." (Forbes)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/08/13/crazy-rich-asians-review-too-much-rich-not-enough-crazy/

"It’s hard to overestimate the importance of this. Last year, only four out of the 100 top-grossing films featured an Asian protagonist. While films like Dev Patel’s Lion and Kumail Nanjiani’s The Big Sick have been met with critical acclaim, it’s been 25 years since a major Hollywood studio has funded a present-day film that features an entirely Asian, Asian American and diaspora Asian cast, with the last instance being 1993’s The Joy Luck Club." (The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/aug/13/crazy-rich-asians-review-kevin-kwan

Nevertheless, there have been some comments from South Asians over their lack of representation in the movie, except as servants.

"The film's lack of diversity -- which follows the demographics represented in the book it was based upon -- was apparent to many others as well, with one commentator asking an uncomfortable question on Twitter on behalf of South Asians and Southeast Asians: "Are we not Asian?"

https://qz.com/quartzy/1260412/crazy-rich-asians-trailer-south-asians-criticize-film-for-lack-of-ethnic-diversity-and-singaporean-accent/

After watching the trailer and reading the reviews, it seems that Kevin Kwan's story is more a celebration of the Singaporean culture, including the unapologetic display of wealth in the movie. 

The movie is more accurately called "Crazy Rich Singaporeans" and should not have used the word "Asian" that carries with it a lot of diversity and cultural nuances. 

As touted in the media, the movie appears to be a source of light (some may say shallow) entertainment and wealth porn.

For those who seek a more accurate representation of culture, however, the movie merely attempts to depict the rich people of one country and not necessarily the whole of Asia.

Finding Philippine hero Marcelo H. del Pilar

(c) Wikipedia

Known as the “Father of Philippine Journalism,” Marcelo H. del Pilar (pen name: Plaridel) was the editor of the subversive newspaper “La Solidaridad” during the Spanish era and the uncle of Gregorio del Pilar who is featured in a Filipino movie called “Goyo.”

Just like most Filipinos, my previous knowledge about Marcelo was limited to grade school textbook information that I had largely forgotten over the years. 

However, I do have memories from my childhood that recently re-surfaced as I started checking on the story of his nephew Gregorio who is featured in a movie. It eventually led me to Marcelo.

I remember accompanying my grandmother (who was an invited guest) to Barasoain Church during its centennial celebration. I seem to recall visiting a small museum where Marcelo’s family tree was displayed, and it included my grandmother’s lineage. It is only now that I have come to understand my family’s connection with Marcelo.

One of the “lolos” that I would see during past reunions seems to have written a published biography book on Marcelo. As a child, I was told that Lolo Magno survived a bolo attack from a Japanese soldier. I never knew that he had direct knowledge about Marcelo.

Then, I read Marcelo's letter to a woman named Josefa. I decided to ask my aunt if my deceased grandmother’s mother was named Josefa. 

She answered, “Can’t remember. I guess so because Josefa is also her name. She just doesn’t use it. So probably she was named after her mom.”

Marcelo gave an advice to his niece Josefa and to women in Bulacan. He highlighted the importance of virtue in women as well as their pursuit of education. He asked his niece to study the Spanish language diligently.

“The vagaries of life, which Providence in its most inscrutable design has alloted to me, had taken me away from that beautiful land where I have left behind the treasures of my life without even giving me a chance to say goodbye to the people I cherish and appreciate. In this letter to you, I shall try to make amends for my precipitate flight, by sending through you this my humble message to the young women of Bulacán. I feel convinced that you have been chosen, and on you depends the regeneration, the rebirth of our town. For there is no doubt of the strength and scope of a women’s influence on the family. Daughter, sister, wife, or mother — a woman offers the balm of solace that makes endurable the rigors of everyday life. More than that, she is the element that guides men to paths of virtue and courage or to the pitfalls of wrongdoing and cowardice…” 

Click on the link to read the whole letter...

https://filipinoscribbles.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/marcelo-h-del-pilars-letter-to-his-niece-josefa-gatmaitan/

Upon further reading, I learned that Marcelo led a lonely existence in exile and died in extreme poverty.

“Del Pilar's last years in Spain saw his descent into extreme poverty. He often missed his meals and during winter, he kept himself warm by smoking discarded cigarette butts he picked up in the streets. Suffering from tuberculosis, del Pilar decided to return to the Philippines. His illness worsened that he had to cancel his journey.[52] He was taken to the Hospital de la Santa Cruz (Hospital Civil) in Barcelona. Del Pilar died there on July 4, 1896, a few days before the Cry of Pugad Lawin (Cry of Balintawak).[53] He was buried the following day in a borrowed grave at the Cementerio del Sub-Oeste (Southwest Cemetery).”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcelo_H._del_Pilar

In his letters, he would often talk about how much he missed his family. 

"Month after month, day after day, for eight endless years, the thought of returning to his dear ones was del Pilar’s permanent obsession, dream, hope, and pain. Of all the sufferings he had to go through, this was the only one that made the “warrior” shed tears like a boy, and put his soul in a trance of madness and insanity. His 104 surviving letters to the family attest to this painful situation…"

https://filipinoscribbles.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/marcelo-h-del-pilar-a-broken-dad-till-the-end/

Marcelo was a freemason and was anti-friar during his time. What caught my attention, however, was the information that he was documented to have retracted his views prior to his death. 

The UST History Society noted on its Facebook page:

“His relationship with the Catholic Church is one of the unsettled issues of Philippine history, besides the retraction of Rizal. Del Pilar joined the Masons in Spain but shortly before his death, received the last sacraments of the Catholic Church according to the late Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P. who studied the details of Del Pilar’s relationship with the Church and death. His research on this topic was published as a journal article in the September 1996 issue of Unitas, and eventually as a monograph titled “Marcelo H. Del Pilar: His Religious Conversions.”

https://web.facebook.com/USTHSTSOC/posts/marcelo-h-del-pilar-was/1270066016452352/?_rdc=1&_rdr

All told, history becomes real when stories touch on a personal level. 

It is interesting to see movies like “Goyo” and “Heneral Luna” bring our textbook heroes to the big screen. 

Although these movies are expensive to make, they fill a valuable educational need in helping Filipinos understand Philippine history and learn from it. It is also a breath of air amidst the suffocating stench of mediocre or vulgar Philippine entertainment alternatives.

A popular Filipino saying goes, “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” (A person who fails to look back to where he came from will not reach his destination.)

It is certainly not a bad idea to retrace the stories surrounding our nation’s birth so that we may find the right trajectory towards the future.

How to grow a butterfly garden in the Philippines

Butterflies are essential to the world's food supply chain. So if you ask me, gardens in the Philippines and around the world should be encouraged to entice these beautiful creatures.

"An abundance of butterflies is often an indication that an ecosystem is thriving. This is due to the fact that butterflies are an important component of a food chain, as predators and prey. Adult butterflies and caterpillars are an important source of food for other animals such as bats and birds. Along with nectar, butterflies eat a variety of plants. Some species also provide a natural of form of pest control. For example, the harvester butterfly eats aphids while it is in its caterpillar form."

https://sciencing.com/butterflies-important-8749269.html

The picture above shows a butterfly feasting on a zinnia flower. Butterflies like brightly colored flowers with pollen. 

But before becoming butterflies, they begin as caterpillars. These caterpillars eat certain plants during the larval period. 

If you wish to attract more butterflies, you need some of these plants that can host the caterpillars.

In the Philippines, I have seen the pandakaki plant (see picture below) attract caterpillars that practically eat all the leaves. Initially, it may look like they are pests attacking the plant but they go away eventually and become butterflies.

It is important not to spray pesticides on these plants as they will kill the caterpillars.

Another plant that attracts butterflies and is easily available in the Philippines is called lantana (see picture below). This flowering plant grows into a bush and can be grown from cuttings.

"Aside from the larval host plants, flowers also attract all kinds of  adult butterflies.  I have planted Lantana camara, single-petaled Hibiscus, Passion vine, Chinese parasol and Heliconias in my garden."

https://ebonph.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/attracting-birds-and-butterflies-to-the-garden/

Some gardens also provide a shallow muddy water pool for the butterflies.

"Butterflies often congregate on wet sand and mud to partake in "puddling," drinking water and extracting minerals from damp puddles. Place coarse sand in a shallow pan and then insert the pan in the soil of your habitat. Make sure to keep the sand moist."

https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Wildlife/Attracting-Butterflies

Attract butterflies to your garden and they will bring you absolute happiness.