Comments on: What does PHP50 ($1) buy you these days???

by: Marketman

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 01:16:51 +0000

Marinel, hit the wet markets when you get back. January is great for produce. Prices in the Philippines for food items are rather high in general, except for produce grown close to the towns you live in… However, I find with some sense a consumer can eat very well for reasonable amounts of money…

by: Marinel

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 22:41:20 +0000

Thank you for posting this, Marketman. We’re going back in January and I’ve been really curious as to what we can buy for 50 pesos/$1. I’m constantly checking Rustan’s and SM’s website for their produce prices. I read that a bundle of kangkong at Rustan’s is 9 pesos. I thought that was a great deal. But after reading this post, I am really excited to see what other bargains we can find in local markets. Thanks again.

by: Marketman

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 12:45:11 +0000

stef, I agree, we need to buy local… or grow it if you can (everything I try to grow seems to wither…)!

by: stef

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:08:45 +0000

well, true, you can’t buy these kinds of vegetables for $5, but why opt for the mcd’s meal? yes, exotics are more expensive so if you insisted on getting these specific items it will cost you about $15. BUT, with $5 i can get a good sized newly-harvested squash, some garlic, some onion, some late-season beans, a nice baby eggplant or two. If I wanted to I could add an ampalaya from the Indian market and some bagoong and I’ve got me some Americanized pinakbet. Or a ratatouille. Or a respectable vegetarian stew. produce is still the least expensive foodstuff there is, even here in the US, especially if you buy in season and concentrate on locally grown items. just like anywhere, we all need to do our part to support the local farmers. the benefits go both ways. and the dollars go down even more when you choose to grow your own. and the satisfaction in doing so (not to mention the nutritional value), of course, is priceless.

by: Marketman

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:25:20 +0000

ems, yes, salty black beans go well with beef and ampalaya…hmmm, lots of interest in these wickedly bitter “wild” ampalaya…I have to put a post on the dish I cooked them into soon…