RAMIREZ, MA.

MARIELLE

BS IN PSYCHOLOGY - BSY11

SUBJECT: MGA BABASAHIN HINGGIL SA KASAYSAYAN NG PILIPINAS

PROFESSOR JUMEL G. ESTRANERO

DE LA SALLE UNIVERISTY – DASMARINAS

ENCHANTMENT IN OUT: A PERSPECTIVE OF FILIPINOS IN EATING OF STREET

FOODS

I. INTRODUCTION

The term "street foods" refers to a variety of ready-to-eat foods and beverages sold and
occasionally produced in public spaces, most notably streets. The final processing of street foods
occurs when the consumer requests a meal, which can be enjoyed on the spot or taken away. When
compared to restaurant meals, street foods are a cost-effective option for home-cooked meals.
Despite their similarities, the range, environment, marketing strategies, and ownership of street
foods businesses vary. Traditional local cultures are often reflected in street foods, which come in
an unlimited variety. The basic components as well as the preparation of street food beverages,
snacks, and meals vary greatly. The stalls of vendors are usually outside or under a cover that is
easily accessible from the street. They have low-cost seats, which can be primitive at times. Their
marketing performance is solely dependent on location and word-of-mouth advertising.
Individuals or families normally own and operate street food companies, but the benefits of their
trade reach across the local economy. (Winarno & Allain, n.d.).

Many of the best culinary finds can be found on the streets rather than in the most opulent
eateries, as seen by serious food travelers. When it comes to Filipino cuisine, especially, street
food has become a distinct food category. It's a terrific way to learn about a country's culture while
still being reasonably priced and handy. The options for street food tours in the Philippines are
infinite. Filipino street food, like any of its cuisine, is the product of adversity. As a colonized
country, expensive and high-quality meats were incredibly expensive and impossible to get,
necessitating the usage of the animal's less glamorous and less expensive components. These
pieces have been converted into some of the most delicious and economical bites of food,
demonstrating the Filipino people's adaptability and resourcefulness. Street food can still be
available on every street corner in the Philippines' main cities, and street markets that stay open
until 2 a.m. have made it even more accessible. (Tee, n.d.).

Statement of the Problem

The following questions will be addressed by this research:

1. What is the reason of having an extreme fondness for street food?

2. What are the things that make street food unsafe and unhealthy?
3. What are the most popular street foods eaten?

Objective of the Study

1. Determine the reason for having an extreme fondness for street food.
2. Find out what makes street food unsafe and unhealthy.
3. Discover the most popular street foods eaten.

Paradigm of the Study

Process
1. Finding of RRL that
InpInput is related to the topic.
Output
Articles 2. Examining the
respondents base of the Determine the
Respondents perspective of
criteria.
Survey Interview Filipinos in eating
3.Analysis of the street foods
answers of the
participants.

Figure 1. Research Paradigm

 Figure 1 is a visual presentation of the research paradigm. It presents the conceptual model
in being aware of the perspective of the Filipino in eating street foods. The researcher used the I-
P-O system model having these 3 elements:

The input included the source of information of the researcher, which is the articles, which
serve as a basis and guide for relevant research; the respondents, who gave information through
the help of the survey interview. The process indicated how the researcher conducted the study
with their capability of finding RRL, examining their respondent with the criteria they made, and
analyzing the answer of their respondents. The output shows the main goal of the researcher with
their study that is for determining the perspective of Filipino in eating street foods.

Definition of Terms

Isaw – Chicken and pig intestine that is being marinated to be grilled.

Kikiam – A brown street food made of ground pork and minced shrimp.

Kwek-kwek – Boiled egg coated with a flour that has an orange food color.

Street Foods – A variety of foods that can be seen in any place outside.

Tokneneng – A boiled quail egg coated with a flour that has an orange food color.
 II. BODY

Review of Related Literature

Reasons for having an extreme fondness for eating street foods

According to the Look Upgrade Corp (2019), street food can be found in almost any place
in the Philippines. Everyone can see it outside the school, outside the church, in the park, and on
the side of the road wherever they walk. Food is an enthusiasm for all Filipinos, especially when
it is affordable and excellent. Filipino street food is readily available at any time and in any
location, which is why Filipinos enjoy eating it. Street food does not require a large amount of
money; as long as everyone has the funds, they can eat as much as their budget allows. Everyone
can enjoy street food. Filipinos consider street food to be one of their favorite foods. When they
see street food outside and everyone is eating it, they will want to join them and eat it as well. The
people who consume street food are that it is primarily incredibly economical, and it can be
purchased anywhere and at any time by any Filipino. Street food may also be found on the dinner
or lunch table of a Filipino family because when they are unable to prepare meals for their family
members, they purchase street food and are all satisfied because it would be deliciously ready-to-
eat food. Also, while street food is healthy, it is not always so. Furthermore, eating street food can
help in supporting the wonderful individuals who make it possible. Everyone who eats street food
can aid someone who is putting in a lot of effort to ensure their family's future. Everyone knows
that selling food on the street is a respectable and admirable profession. Another advantage is that
when an individual already consumes street food, they are a true Filipino, as street food is the
Filipinos' all-time favorite, and they adore it.

Things that make street foods unsafe and unhealthy

According to Defensor (n.d.), many vendors selling street food may employ poor
ingredients. They may witness improper food preparation and handling techniques and operate in
facilities that do not meet minimum sanitary requirements. They might be able to use used cooking
oil. They are not wearing hairnets or washing their hands before touching or preparing meals.
Food, containers, and utensils may have been stored inappropriately or exposed to filth, smoke,
and flies. These procedures can lead to bacterial proliferation and contamination, putting
consumers at risk.
 According to the Local Press (2020), garbage and dirt are spread by street food sellers,
increasing the risk of germs and viruses. Consumers should be informed that street food vendors
lack an appropriate garbage disposal system, and rubbish is frequently gathered and thrown away
in proximity, such as on pavements or street corners. While some of these are cleaned up by the
municipal government, others are ignored and eventually become major disease-spreading
hotspots in the neighborhood. As a result, these areas get infested with bugs and flies, increasing
the risk of infection in the food that these vendors offer, and that people consume.

Most popular street foods eaten

According to Fernando, (2021), originally, street foods were merely “pantawid gutom”, or
a way to satisfy hunger while racing from one thing to the next. Filipinos have developed
delectable quick snacks with a range of flavors because they have a talent for blending flavors and
making the most out of whatever ingredients they have on hand. In fact, some restaurants have
started serving Filipino street foods. Regardless of whether they prefer gourmet dining or just
sticking them up on the street. The “isaw” in the Philippines is one of the most popular Filipino
street meals. Typically, hog or chicken intestines are grilled or deep-fried. In this street food, the
intestines are carefully cleansed before grilling. Since the 1970s, “isaw” has existed the
Philippines. When livestock supply was plentiful in the 1950s, street food sellers decided to offer
more expensive portions of meat, but when the country faced an economic crisis in the 1970s,
scrap parts of pork and chicken suddenly became lucrative, prompting them to begin selling
“isaw”. “Isaw” is a classic of street food in the Philippines, and no article on the subject would be
complete without it. Since everything in the Philippines has become more expensive, Filipinos
have coined the phrase "fish balls na lang ang hindi nagmamahal," which means fish balls are the
one that remains low-cost street foods. It is the Philippines' cheapest street food, costing only PHP
0.50 per piece which is why everyone is buying this. Fish balls in the Philippines are groundfish
that has been flattened and skewered before being deep-fried. They are commonly made from
pollock or cuttlefish and a lot of flour. Chicken skin is another popular street snack in the
Philippines. It's made of chicken skin that's been battered and deep-fried until golden brown and
crispy. This Philippines street meal is a favorite among students and people on a budget because
chicken skin is both full and inexpensive. For only PHP 10, everyone can have a cup of chicken
skin, and when they are looking for a more substantial supper on a budget, simply purchase rice at
the nearest eatery and couple it with chicken skin. Those are the most popular street foods in the
Philippines that can be seen in every corner of the place.

Research Design

This research utilized phenomenology because according to Creswell (2013); it is an

approach used in qualitative research that focuses on the commonality of a lived experience within
a particular group. The fundamental goal of the approach is to arrive at a description of the nature
of the phenomenon. Typically, the interview is the main method used in this kind of approach to
those individuals who have first-hand knowledge of an event, situation, or experience. the
researchers designed this study to follow the phenomenological approach, which can also be
described as a way of understanding people's perceptions and perspectives of the meaning of a
particular situation or event which seeks to identify what all participants have in common as they
experience a phenomenon. The researcher focuses on the Filipinos' perceptions of a specific
phenomenon and collects their experiences on how they overcame and resolved the issue, as well
as how it affects their natural behavior.

Research Participants and Locale

The participant of this study focuses on the Filipinos who eat street foods the age of 18 to 25
in Tanza, Cavite. A total of five Filipino will only be selected, the researcher decided to narrow
down the participants due to the limited time which are pure-blooded Filipino. The researcher
decided to hide the real name of the participant due to confidentiality. However, there would be a
criterion that follows:

1. Must be pure Filipino ages 18-20 years old.

2. Lives in Cavite
3. Knows the different street foods

Data Gathering Technique

The researchers used an unstructured interview or non-directive interview which tends to be

more informal and freer flowing than a structured interview, much like an everyday conversation.
However, due to the new normal, the researcher decided to interview by asking questions in a
messenger application that will be easier and easy to understand.
 III. ANALYSIS

Presentation and Analyzation of Data

In this part, the answers of the participants of the study would be presented using the table
and they were carefully analyzed.

Table 1. The reason of having an extreme fondness in street foods.

Participants Narratives

1 No, I often eat street foods, yes maybe it's cheap and affordable but
the food safety is not ensured.
2 I only eat street foods sometimes now. The reason I eat it is because
many vendors are selling it near our place, and I have this feeling that
I should try to eat different street foods sometimes to satisfy my
cravings for these foods. And also, they only sell it for an affordable
price.
3 No but I buy street foods due to the fact that its low-priced and its
availability.
4 Yes, I eat street food because it’s cheap but delicious.

5 Yes, it is because of its cheap price and availability, but other than that
it's also delicious for me.

This table answers the reason for having an extreme fondness for eating street foods.
Participants 2, 4, and 5 answered that they eat street foods. Based on their answer, the reason for
having a fondness for eating street foods is because of its affordable and cheap price. Also, the
reason that affects them to buy street foods is because of their availability and being delicious.
While the answer of participants one, and three answered that they do not eat street foods.
However, according to them, street foods are affordable, low-cost, and available to any place.

In relation to the gathered data, according to the Look Upgrade (2019), Filipinos loves
eating street food since it is readily accessible and in any area. It is not necessary to spend a lot of
money on street food; as long as everyone has enough money, they would eat as much as their
budget allows. Street food appeals to a wide range of people. One of the most popular foods among
Filipinos is street food. When they notice people eating street food outside, they will want to join
in and consume it as well. People who eat street food do so because it is, first and foremost,
extremely affordable, and it can be obtained by any Filipino at any time and from any location.

Table 2. Things that make street foods unsafe and unhealthy

Participants Narratives
1 In my experience, we often see unorganized, not sanitized, and improper
waste storage to those stalls we see at the street and the vendors are not
properly dressed to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the food they
serve.
2 There is one store where I sometimes buy street foods to eat. I can say
that they keep their place clean, but not totally clean on the outside of
the store. They have this sack beside their store where you can put your
waste from the food you eat. As I remember, the vendors were only
wearing normal clothes. But when it comes to cooking, I notice the oil
they use is still clean, yellowish, and still good to use.
3 Oftentimes sanitary practices (vendors are wearing aprons, masks, and
hairnet) are not observed, the workplace is also unsanitary.
4 Well, some of the stores are not as clean as others, but I prefer to buy
street foods from those stores where the vendors are wearing aprons,
masks, and hairnets for my health's sake.
5 I can say that not all the time, sometimes it's clean but most of the time
it's not. No. Yes, most of the time.

This table answers the things that make street food unsafe and unhealthy. Participants 1, 2,
3, 4, and 5 often see that the workplace and food stall were not clean and not sanitized. While
participants 1, 2, 3, and 5 saw and experienced that the vendors were not wearing any masks,
hairnets, and aprons. Also, participant 2 noticed that the oil that street vendors were using was
clean, yellowish, and good to use. Additionally, participant 2 saw that the street food vendors have
a sack bag beside the store that serves as a trash bag. However, participant 5 noticed most of the
time that the oil color was brown, not yellowish.

In relation to the gathered data, according to Defensor (n.d.), the street food vendors may
be exposed to unsafe food preparation procedures and work in facilities that do not satisfy hygienic
standards. They might be able to make do with leftover cooking oil. They don't cover their heads
with hair nets or wash their hands before touching or preparing food. While, according to the Local
Press (2020) street food vendors spread rubbish and dirt, increasing the risk of germs and diseases.
As a result, these locations get infested with bugs and flies, posing a danger of infection in the food
sold by these vendors, and consumed by the public.

Table 3. Most popular street foods

Participants Narratives
1 We often go to the side streets of Stadium in Naic and takoyaki as well
as milk tea are some of the foods that I like the most which commonly
cost 140 pesos in total which is a huge discount for me.
2 I usually buy street foods that cheap to eat as my snacks in the afternoon.
I like to eat kwek-kwek that cost 3 pesos. Kikiam too, for 1 peso. And
burgers, which you can buy for 25 pesos for two pieces.
3 Most of the time Kwek-kwek, it costs 10 pesos.
4 I always bought barbeque and it costs 15-20 pesos.
5 Fishballs and Tokneneng, also known as Tuhog-tuhog, which cost
around 50 cents- 3 pesos each

This table answers the most popular street foods consumed and eaten by Filipinos.
Participants 2,3 and 5 answered that they always eat kwek-kwek and tokneneng that cost three
pesos each and ten pesos each. While participant 1 answered was Takoyaki which cost 140
including milk tea. Participant 2 answered that kikiam cost 1 peso each and burger cost twenty-
five pesos for two pieces where she always eats. Participant 4 answered that she bought barbeques
that cost 15-20 pesos each. Lastly, participant 5 bought fish balls that cost fifty cents each.
 Based on the gathered data, 3 respondents answered that kwek-kwek and tokneneng are
the street foods that they buy and most popular. Then, it follows by Takoyaki, kikiam, burger,
barbeque, and fish balls. However, according to Fernando (2021), the “isaw” in Philippines is one
of the most popular Filipino street meals. Typically, hog or chicken intestines are grilled or deep-
fried. In this street food the intestines are carefully cleansed before grilling. Chicken skin is another
popular street snack in the Philippines. It's essentially made of chicken skin that's been battered
and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. For only PHP 10, everyone can have a cup of chicken
skin and when they are looking for a more substantial supper on a budget, simply purchase rice at
the nearest eatery and couple it with chicken skin. Since fish balls is the one that remain low-cost
street foods. It is the Philippines' cheapest street food, costing only PHP 0.50 per piece which is
why everyone is buying this.

IV. RECOMMENDATION

In view of the data gathered and analyzed, the researcher produced the following
recommendations.

1. For the Filipino, this research study suggests that everyone had a different perspective for
having an extreme fondness for eating street foods. Most of their reason are due to
availability and affordable price.
2. The street vendors should know that their actions in cooking, preparing, and handling foods
are not clean and sanitized sometimes. This study is for them to open their eyes that they
should practice safeness and cleanliness every time since this is the time of the pandemic.
3. The parents must have control over their children by eating street food. They should
supervise their children by eating street food to avoid eating too much and to avoid disease
spreading.
4. For future researchers, a parallel study may be conducted in other places or communities
with a larger sample to confirm or validate the findings of the present study.
5. For every Filipino, continue to support the street food vendors as they are the ones who
satisfied your cravings. Give some advice to those street vendors that do not clean properly
and do not wear masks, hairnets, and aprons properly.
 V. CONCLUSIONS

Based on the analysis of the researchers on the gathered data, they came to the following
conclusions.

1. Most Filipino eats street food due to its affordable price and availability. While there are
some that eat street food due to its delicious taste that fits in the taste of all Filipinos.
2. Most of the street food vendors do not sanitize and clean their workplace or food stall.
Also, there are vendors that do not wear masks, aprons, and hairnets. There are vendors
who use the remaining oil again and have garbage bags besides on their food stalls which
makes the street food unhealthy and unsafe to eat.
3. The most popular street food everyone eats is kwek – kwek and tokneneneng which is the
same. While fish balls are the cheapest price among all the street foods.
4. Filipinos have a different perspective on eating street foods. There are some that still buy
and eat street foods even though the place is not clean and sanitized and the vendors were
not wearing masks, aprons, and hairnets. While there are some that buy only on vendors
that have a clean and sanitized workplace and that is complete in wearing masks, aprons,
and hairnet.
 VI. REFERENCES

Cresswell, J. (2013 ). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design . Retrieved from Choosing Among
the Five Approaches : https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/com9640epstein/?p=543

Defensor, J. (n.d.). Dirty Dining (all about Philippine street food, safety & nutrition). Retrieved
from Judefensor: https://judefensor.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/dirty-dining-all-about-
philippine-street-food-safety-
nutrition/#:~:text=The%20food%2C%20containers%20and%20utensils,the%20hazards%
20for%20the%20consumer

Fernando, C. (2021, July 7). 13 Irresistible Street Food in the Philippines That Will Give You
Major Foodgasm. Retrieved from Zenrooms :
https://www.zenrooms.com/blog/post/street-food-philippines/

Local Press. (2020, November 21). Pros and Cons of Street Food. Retrieved from Local Press.in:
https://localpress.in/2020/02/05/pros-and-cons-of-street-
food/#:~:text=Street%20food%20vendors%20end%20up,like%20pavements%20or%20st
reet%20corners

Look Upgrade . (2019, August 1). Why Street Food in the Philippines is Famous. Retrieved from
Look Upgrade : https://lookupgrade.com/en/blog/english-why-street-food-in-the-
philippines-is-famous/

Tee, S. (n.d.). Philippines Street Food Guide: What to Eat. Retrieved from Guide to the
Philippines : https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/philippines-
street-food-guide

Winarno, F., & Allain, A. (n.d.). Street foods in developing countries: lessons from Asia.
Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/u3550t/u3550t08.htm
 MESSAGE FOR MR. JUMEL G. ESTRANERO

Dear Mr. Estranero,

Good day, Sir. I am hoping that you are feeling good today when the time that you read
this message despite your busy schedule and the happenings in the country right now. As a student
in DLSU-D, I am grateful that you were chosen to become our professor in the subject of Mga
Babasahin Hinggil sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas because even though it’s not your field, you gave
your best to teach us wholeheartedly. I have learned a lot from you, Sir. I may not be able to recite
during our synchronous class, but I was listening carefully. You’re one of the best professors I
have known because you’re not just teaching us the subject but you’re also giving some advice to
us in our life. I will always remember your humor during synchronous class to enlighten the mood.
Also, I am grateful for understanding everyone in their situation. I am delighted that even in the
small details, you even noticed the efforts of everyone in the class. You always make us believe
that we are great, and we can do better. You’re incredibly supportive of every one of us. Thank
you for making an effort to help us grow academically and personally. All I can say is that I am
grateful because I am really. I promise that all the knowledge that you have shared with us will be
forever in our minds, I will always remember your name and who you are. This may not be the
end of you teaching us, I know fate will make a way to let you teach us again at a different time. I
wish you good health, Sir. Good luck on your journey, I know you have a lot of dreams and goals
in your life just like us, but you are ahead of us. May we achieve all our goals in the future. Thank
you for the time and effort you have given us. Always take care, Sir.

Sincerely,

Ma. Marielle Ramirez