Comments on: Market Moments…

By: Ebba Myra

Ebba Myra — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:49:18 +0000

I myself love going to Wet Markets.. but somehow I prefer those that are located in the provinces. The “seller” are friendlier and more thrusworthy than the ones I find in Manila. Summer of 2007, I went to Quezon for a Mission Trip, and everyday, my team and I would go early in the morning to the local town market to check on the daily catch of the day, and the fresh produce that has just been harvested. I actually have fun and enjoy doing it.. mud, dust, scent and all. But I DO NOT enjoy going to the Munincipal Hall to process some papers for my mom’s small coconut farm. The employees are not to be thrusted, they gossip, gives you that eyeing look, especially to the people who are with me and are not dressed “professional” enough to be served. It has been years, and the process of our documents is still in the hands of the “designated” one and only he and he alone (as what everybody in that office say, including the town treasurer), can fix of finalized the paper.. even though I told question them that it is a public document and it is the work of the whole office. Nevertheless, I have been back here in the States, and still I have not received the papers. I asked my relative to go see “the man” and ask for the documents… and she also has gotten nowhere after 3 months of visits. I might have to get a lawyer soon.. oh, I hope this one works for honest job.. and not be one of them in the corrupted Munincipal Hall.

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 18:15:17 +0000

Bravo, Marketman! You are not only “the windows” to a fine culinary experience to your readers like me, but also a socially sensitive one with a strong dash of political frankness about what is happening to the country. This post is very provocative and gave a better meaning to the changes in our surroundings that most of us ignore for one reason or another. I very much enjoyed this post.
One last comment about the overseas workers that bring in billions of $$$ and have become the backbone of the Phil. economy; I find it very disturbing that instead of building and making things work in the country, the present government seems to encourage more people to work overseas, rather than really work hard on a plan to solidify and secure the economy thus providing a healthy and stable future for the next generations to come. I have a feeling that this is simply too much of a challenge and deep thinking and hard work to deal with our politicians. And the head of the country is an economist??? Have mercy!
I look forward to your future observations and comments and of course, your delicious recipes.

By: danney

danney — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:47:52 +0000

Hello Marketman,

I wish I could join a group of investors and help create OSS Insurance Program for overseas workers. To avoid corruption, the company should be based somewhere outside the Philippines. Are you ready to join me?

By: Marketman

Marketman — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 02:47:49 +0000

danney, a fascinating topic and something I would like to get into in a post in the weeks ahead. It is something I can really get into… More later.

By: danney

danney — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 02:33:39 +0000

This particular “fish market article” is very provocative like fishmonger. It is more about social clash and politics. Let me make a comment that might incite people. There are over 8 million overseas workers and they are contributing 14 billion dollars annually to the Philippine economy. That is about 700 billion pesos!! Where is the money?

The government considered the OFWs “Heroes of Today” but once the overseas workers lost their job or become incapacitated, they are no longer heroes. I always believe that overseas workers should have their own social security. SSS, GSIS and OSS (Overseas Social Security)

Overseas workers should pay OSS insurance in dollars and should get health benefits, shelter, education in dollars too. That is the best that the country can offer to our overseas workers!! They should get higher benefits because they are paying in dollars and they are remitting billions of dollars!!

By: Marketman

Marketman — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:48:31 +0000

Hi Karen, good to “hear” from you! Don’t get me going on population commentaries, I would freak out 90% of the religious readers! Mahek, I have some posts on the Salcedo market in makati that has a lot of prepared foods… it’s in the archives. jules winnfield, yes I agree in general that most shopping will move to airconditioned malls/megastores, but in the same way the U.S. has swung back to farmer’s markets, etc, I am hoping there will always be a demand for top quality super fresh produce, preferably sold by the growers themselves…

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:20:27 +0000

Don’t forget the illegal poachers of our seas! :)

Both government and the private sector, even the grassroots have recognised the urgency of the ecological problem. It is encouraging to find more fish sanctuaries being established in different areas across the archipelago. Of course, these are not enough.

I love reading your social commentaries, MM.

By: mahek

mahek — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:12:08 +0000

Thanks for your contribution to the blogging world.
I am a great market lover and love to see the markets which blogger offer virtually and which i might not have the opportunity to visit.
But its a pleasure to see the local markets and the produce sold there so that we too can know what going on in the food world around us and during our times.
do you have ready food vendors in your markets and if yes pls click them and show us the food that is made and sold.

By: jules winnfield

jules winnfield — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 07:09:15 +0000

as for humanity raping mother nature, that’s another thing. i need a whole lifetime to type that down.

but, as for wet markets, i say goodnight and goodluck. not that i don’t like wet markets, all my childhood ‘palengke’ memories are all happy and cartimar(Ã¼). i remember exactly where all of my mom’s suki stalls are, not to mention my dad’s favorite petshop and garden supplies store, and where the ‘lola’ cuchinta vendor sat. you could say i call on these memories when someone suggests i think happy thoughts.

but, alas, the day and age of the supermarket lords arriveth. as recently as 20 years ago, no one but no one bought fresh stuff from supermarkets. it was unheard of. heretical even, to my mom. it was the very last place to go to since nobody did a decent job in fresh really. but now, look at how retail has evolved. supermarket chains are alloting more and more space and resources to fresh meats, seafood and produce. fresh has somehow become its playground. although it is debatable whether any chain is at 100% already, fresh categories in supermarkets are without question, exponentially better than before.

i remember an article in the late 80’s that said only 2% of total meats (beef and pork) in metro manila are sold in the supermarket/meatshop trade channels, while 98% goes to wet markets. who knows what that figure is today? i’m sure that 2% figure has hot-air-ballooned since. why? flies, airconditioning, hygiene, sanitation, dubious scales, wooden chopping boards, sweaty butchers, dripping sweat, saliva showers, etc etc.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 05:03:02 +0000

Myra, you are so right. I do the same, increasingly I am getting my stuff locally… prawns, crabs, fish, etc. Recently I have been buying a lot of fruit and veggies on the way to the beach. If you have a great kakanin contact in the nasugbu area I would love to hear about it… I, too, don’t bargain that much…I figure I will always pay “tourist” prices but that’s okay… Now if only we could get locals to make great chutneys from neighborhood indian mango trees, or ube jaleya, or carabao mango jams, sampaloc concentrates, etc… And better than just buying for use at the beach…I buy lots of fish to freeze and take back to Manila for use during the week as well! ihid, you are right, pork does seem to stretch further than most seafood…