STREET FOOD CULTURE in BACOLOD

Asia is one of continents in the world that has a different street vibe compared to other places. For one, like in Thailand and China, exotic street food abound. The different aroma in the air are so strong that you get easily hungry. Being a tourist, cultural food should be a must on the list in the itinerary. 

Grilled Balut

THRIVING INDUSTRY
Street food is a big industry albeit however some see the people behind it, the vendors as nuisance or illegals. However, this thriving economy has become a part of Asian or Filipino culture.

EVOLUTION IN THE MODERN ERA
Originally, kanto food is focused on carinderias (food eatery by the road) but now, it has evolved into something mobile. Vendors now show up at any places like parks, townships (like in the Megaworld The Upper East or at the back of Bacolod City Government Center in Bacolod City, and pop-up carts or food trucks.  

On sticks and plastic cups

SOME CHALLENGES
Now, with these foldable or mobile trucks, people can pay affordable food and enjoy it outdoors or simply, order them as a take away. The only drawback with this kind of business is the weather. When it rains or if there's an incoming typhoom, only few customers might show up.

GLOBAL CULINARY INVASION
Philippines' street food scene is not focused solely on Pinoy cuisine as a whole but it has become a fusion of cultures, traditions, tastes, cooking and styles. It has evolved so much.  Now, you can find  Arabic cuisines like Shawarma, Hummus, Shawarma Rice as well as Chinese ice candy Tanghulu and siomai; Japanese Tempura and Kikiam, Korean's Kimbop and Cordog, Mexican Burritos, Tacos, Nachos, Chimi Changa, Italian's Pizza and there's the Taiwanese Milk Tea too. 

Beef Pares Overload is so trendy now thanks to Paresan queen, Diwata in Manila

TRENDY AND CLASSIC PINOY FOOD
And for authentic Filipino traditional street food, there's the tasty and popular Balut, bbq on sticks like the Chicken Inasal,  Beef Pares Overload. For the kids, there are pancake, cotton
candy, choros and popcorn.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
If given the training and support from Government like from DOT (Department of Trade), people especially those who are jobless can embrace this kind of opportunities, giving them hope to start small, but also to dream big. Having a street venture with value, cleanliness and respect customer is an honest work, after all. 

BER MONTHS: Christmas time is always early in the Philippines

It is time of the year when everything becomes colorful, full of excitement and a meme-filled fun!  
Well, in the Philippines, the last day of August means the eve for BER Months. This modern celebration is a traditional expansion or evolution of Christmas where in Filipino Christians get to celebrate the season as early as September. 

WHY IT'S CALLED BER MONTHS?

Well,it's actually an imaginative wordplay made by someone that spread to the Filipino lingo. All months from September leading to Christmas Eve on December has BER letters at its end.

But new fun practices emerged from this contemporary tradition. Usually, on August 31, or even early as July, fun memes of Jose Mari Chan, a popular Filipino producer/composer/singer turned businessman, spread like wildfire to Social Media. The memes are teasers and reminders that BER Months are coming. 

FUNNY JMC MEMES

These meme ideas were based from another Ber Months tradition that have been practiced ever since.  As early as August 31, we get to hear Christmas Music or Paskong Pinoy OPM sounds like Jose Mari Chan's Christmas in our Hearts and Perfect Christmas being blasted from loudspeakers in malls, jeepneys (modern transport buses), parks, resorts or in homes. 

Funny Holiday Memes

Here is a video of JMC's Memes Special Collection:  

FOREIGN SONGS ARE IN THE AIR
On the foreign side, Maria Carey's I'll be Home for Christmas also is dominating yuletide playlists after playlist in the streaming platforms like in many Spotify, Amazon Music or YouTube Music in this time of year.

JOLLIBEE JOINS BER MONTHS

Every Ber Months, Jollibee toy collectors are getting busy visiting branches if there are new Kiddie Meal toys.

MALLS DO SHINE BRIGHTER

Malls in the Philippines becomes more festive and colorful in BER Months, blasting Christmas OPM and Traditional Xmas music:  

Giant Christmas Trees in malls lure and spread magica on
families and barkadas as early as September

LIGHTING CEREMONIES
This cultural phenomena was embraced by many Filipinos as they get to enjoy Christmas earlier than other in the world. For many, Ber Months means different Local Government Agencies (LGUs) get to have grand launching of their Christmas villages or giant Christmas trees. Some get to have switching of light ceremonies. 

DECOR HUNTING
Shopping for decorations are part of the BER Months as families and offices are trying to spread the Christmas spirit to their families and employees. Mall take advantage of this early months for them to easily magnet buyers in purchasing Christmas decors, lanterns and lights. Online shops like Lazada and Shoppee are also in line with this tradition.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
Some rich Filipinos get to share the Christmas Spirit by giving free tour of their Christmas decorations  to other people who love the magic of Christ's birth. 

CREATIVE MARKETING
Well, the usual culprit of these new traditions is the commercialization of Christmas. Creatives from advertising agencies and marketing managers of malls and grocery stores are putting their heads hard on thinktank tables to make interesting adverts and promotional materials so people will spend more during the holidays. Getting the buyer's attention is one great element of why Rodolph the Reindeer was created. 

HOLIDAYS IN THE MEDIA
Television companies are also sources of making the holidays evolve drastically by introducing new Company Christmas IDs with their talents singing a new Christmas song that they wish would somehow become viral.

TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Nonetheless, Christmas Spirit should still be anchored with faith, peace, love and hope which are the primary factors that the Bible wanted to convey for us to spread to our fellow men, believers or non-believers.