Jumpstart

Cliquish (Mang Kiko’s @ Somerset)

A break from Taiwan Trip Posts (so much has happened to me since then). 

Been so busy with the whole moving-to-Singapore thing that I haven’t had time to write about it. I am writing this entry because I had a sudden realization awhile ago that I wanted to share.

Back in Manila, I always found it strange that foreigners flock to restaurants that serve their specific cuisine. Like I recently dined in Murtabak in Mall of Asia which serves Indonesian food and the whole resto was filled with Indonesians. Also Little Tokyo restos are always filled with Japanese the same way Ye Dang, Massan Garden and Ara are always filled with Koreans.

I don’t know if I’m the only one who thought this way, but I found it weird that they flocked to restos which offered the same things that they’re used to having. I’m sure they’ll only probably end up saying that the food there was no match as the ones they had at home. To me they were cliquish. I mean, they are in a foreign country - isn’t it more exciting to try out foreign food?

That was my thinking up until today.

After 5 days of being in a foreign land eating Singaporean food everyday, Auntie Lora, Marie (Ian’s family and my housemates) and I, ate at Mang Kiko’s in Somerset for dinner today. They served Lechon Manok and BBQ - Pinoy style.

Lechon Manok complete with sarsa:

BBQ:

When we got there, most of the customers were of course, Pinoy. But instead of cringing and thinking that we were being cliquish, I actually felt relief and joy that in this not-so-faraway land, we weren’t alone. Aside from eating familiar-tasting food, it was nice to be surrounded with people who spoke and acted the same way as we did. For a moment, I forgot that I was in Singapore, and that I missed so many people back home.

Mang Kiko’s Lechon at Somerset:

And it was only then that I got it. The Japanese in Manila don’t just go to Little Tokyo for the ramens and the sushi. They go there to see other Japanese so that they do not feel so alone in a foreign country such as ours. The Koreans go to Ye Dang so that they could be themselves and not worry about being laughed at when they try to speak English. The Indonesians visit Murtabak so they could have a sense of community even for just one meal. Foreigners go to where they can have some semblance of home, and we Pinoys are no different.

I will not be so quick to judge next time. OFW na talaga ako, and I have lots to learn.