My Turf

This morning, my officemate asked me to read this entry. She was so angry at the writer and her friends for dissing our beloved real-life-manifestation-of-Pinoy-success, Jollibee.

Much as I would like to feel bad about what the author thought about Jollibee, I just found myself disagreeing with her taste in food. I honestly do not think the author meant to look down on Filipino culture and our taste buds. Simply put, it’s just that the food she grew up loving is not the same as ours.   

Hey, I used to detest McDonald’s burgers because I found them bland and just not tasty enough. For the life of me, I could not imagine how anyone could think about (and even enjoy!) eating live octopus, or locusts or dogs, or downing their own piss…  Much as I like vegetables, I don’t think I could last a day with zero meat.

In short, my mantra remains: To each his own. And, though this may seem like an off point to raise in this entry, this belief is precisely the reason why no amount of cajoling and persuading could get me to argue about a) religion, b) values, c) love, and most everything related to each person’s unique exposures and life experiences. No, sir, I’m not wasting my breath and emotions on futile debates I could neither win nor lose.   

Despite all that author said, these things remain clear to me:

• I like that "pink sauce" on Jollibee burgers. And honey, it’s pink because it’s ketchup and mayo. Red + White = Pink.
• I LOVE "pork rind" (chicharon). In fact, if not for fear of dying of hypertension and the dreadful pimple breakout, I would eat it everyday.
• Calamansi juice (that’s what was in the packet and not "lemon juice") is a staple in my daily meal condiments.
• Those are not "bread crumbs" on the Palabok. It’s actually fried tofu.
• The "Spaghetti-o-like" hotdogs in Jollibee Spaghetti are part of what I love about it.
• Crispylicious Chickenjoy is, for me, among Jollibee’s greatest gifts to mankind.
• I do not understand AT ALL what could be described as "terrifying" in the yummy Pearl Cooler.
• Chocolate Jolly Shake and Cheese N’ Beef Fries spell H-E-A-V-E-N.  

Here are some excerpts from the conversation between the writers and her friends after leaving Jollibee:

Person #1: I kind of still smell like Jollibee.

Person #2: Yeah. I have to go home and puke now.

Person #3: We’re never going back there.

I don’t care what mean things they say about you. I LOVE YOU, my langhap-sarap JOLLIBEE.