Kumain Na
The sizzling aroma emitted in the kitchen, made me realize that mama’s making her notorious silog; A savory filipino dish composed of sinangag [garlic fried rice] and itlog [egg]. The earthy garlic flakes with fresh green spring onions make cold leftover jasmine rice taste rich and flavourful again. Growing up, these two components with tuyo [fried fish], or brick-coloured logs of logganisa sausage-- are deeply ingrained within my acceptance of filipino culture despite living in Canada. As a child, the garlicy air with the combination of salty fish garnered me ashamed of my meal. With its distinct aroma catching eyes, my childish self felt humiliation and indignity of my own culture; my lunch box of freshly cooked silog untouched and into a trash bin. Now, watching mama cook silog once more, brings me guilt of my shameful actions as a child. In my piece “Kumain na”, [“time to eat”], my incorporation of silog ties into my growing appreciation for my immigrant parents. Despite the culture shock of living in a new country, they never fail to stay true to our Filipino heritage. My painting of silog metaphorphisising into grudgy hands, showcases the significance of my parents hardworking efforts.