More Than Just Food: Savoring Tastes and Life in Ugbo Street Food

Doors of Gastronomy

Who says that you need to fly to another country to try and savor their delicacies when you can have it in one place? Worries no more because your cravings will be satisfied only here in Ugbo Tondo, Manila.

First destination: Korea. Tteokbokki, Korea's most popular street dish, is a soft and chewy rice cake simmered in a crimson, sweet, and spicy sauce. Its savory flavor is simply superb and tempting to every food lover. You can also discover fish cake that can be coupled with fermented and spicy kimchi, which will make you sweat profusely.

Thai Mango Sticky Rice is next on the list. It is a delicacy made with creamy glutinous rice, fresh mango, and coconut milk, topped with sesame seeds. While you can never go wrong with Japanese skewers—a perfectly charcoal-grilled combination of skewered meats, vegetables, and seafood.

Of course, Filipino food will not disappoint you. The classic Pinoy ihaw-ihaw include kikiam, fishball, squidball, kwek-kwek, a boiled chicken or quail egg coated in orange batter, and chicharon bulaklak or crispy pork intestines dunked in vinegar dipping sauce mixed with chopped onions and cucumbers to complement the savory taste. You can also try grilled dried squid and scallops, as well as spicy grilled balut (fertilized duck egg). And if you crave rice and hot soup, Tumbong soup is for you. It is a stew made from cow or pig large intestines, added with onion leeks, fried garlic, and chili oil for extra kick.

Finally, to quench your thirst, you can try the famous dragon fruit smoothie. It has a vivid pink color that is refreshing, cool, and creamy. Fresh fruit shakes are also a must-try. It includes a selection of fresh watermelon, papaya, dragon fruit, strawberries, grapes, and pineapple.

Home in Diversity

For many, the street of Ugbo could be just a place for spotting various delectable, but little did they know it had become a shared neighborhood of new-found homes for every seller, restaurant, and stall owner in the area. And, like the food they offer, their stories are flavorful and worthwhile.

"Through God's kindness, I met a kind family. They also considered me as one of them. They provided me with [sic] a free place to stay so I wouldn't have to leave," said Reaneth Vargas, a 28-year-old dried pusit seller, who had found her way home after a long stint as an illegal vendor at her previous place in Divisoria.

Seven months later, she is happy and comfortable with her thriving business.

Fight of Plight

Not known to everyone, but every seller had their fair share of struggles in life, whether it was their business or personal conflict. Nevertheless, they did what they had to do—conquer— for their dreams, for their safe space.

Leng, a third-year marketing working student at Jesus Reign Christian College, felt deeply grateful to her employer, or what she now considers her family. They offer fresh fruit shakes. As a student, she cannot commit her entire time to the business, but her employers are considerate enough to arrange a convenient shift for her to accommodate her academic pursuits. It wasn't easy for her to balance both simultaneously, but being the woman she is, conquering such a plight is worthwhile and surely a remarkable journey for her.

At the other stall, Daniela Gail, a transwoman, endured an awful experience while selling her takoyaki and mango sticky rice. There was a foul customer who outright insulted her because of her gender. She felt mistreated, but she couldn't do anything because of the belief 'customer is always right'.

"It's like you have no respect for sellers because even though I'm a transwoman or I'm just a seller, the respect must be equal for everyone,” Daniela stated.

Bites and Bonds

These stories are the testimony that life isn’t always savory and that our struggles aren’t as small as bite-sized street food we enjoy, but what ultimately drives us to live life is the power of food in every destination we visit and diverse people we meet, who brought and bonded us together. Sharing the flavors in the street of Ugbo and seizing the moment tells that every bite and bit of life is meant to connect and savor with others.