Taho and G6PD

Guess What Readers?!

While in Mindanao, Phil., I didn't get a chance to eat my favorite breakfast item, Taho.  Not because, they didn't have it, but because the Taho vendor's route was only limited to the main road ( I'd rather amble through the Port rather than hunt this elusive Taho seller ).

So guess what I did on the morning I heard his call? I sprinted to the window and hollered: "Taho, wait ... how much?" I grabbed 20 pesos ( overpriced according to my aunt ), and ran downstairs.  I watched as he scooped the sweet soy in layers and then added the jelly pearls and syrup ( liquid caramelized sugar ).  I got two cups, one for me, and another for my godchild ( one of the few avid taho aficionados ).

I was about to give my godchild his Taho, when his mother stopped me.  My godchild couldn't have Taho or any soy-based product because, he has G6PD, aka Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase ( a revelation for me ).  According to a web article I read ( not sure whether it's credible or not ) G6PD is a deficiency that is inherited through the X chromosome, and it causes red blood cells not to function normally ( which can cause hemolytic anemia ).

There are certain medicines and foods, such as fava beans , legumes ( beans and blackbeans ), soya/soy ( icecream, burgers, pizzas, chocolate, doughnuts, and more), peanuts ( peanut butter, cereal, sauces, salad dressings, and more ), and menthol flavor ( mouthwash, toothpaste, and more ), which trigger symptoms

Aside from Taho, I'm trying to think of other foods common to the Filipino diet that uses the ingredients above.  The only things I can think of are imported food, and franchise fast food, such as Jollybee, Greenwich, Shakey's, and others.  It's horrible that my godchild wouldn't be able to enjoy Taho fully; he'll learn to adjust.  In the meantime, it looks like I'll have to double my Taho intake and eat on his behalf.

Taho for 3

Fruit folklore

Hey Readers!

Throughout my trip I've had the privilege to eat fruit local to this part of the world, such as rambutan, lonzones, and durian.  Not only are these naturally sweet, but also loaded with lore.

Lonzones have the texture of gelatin; just don't bite the seed or else taste its bitterness.  According to my cousin's husband, a planter's happy mood contributed to lonzones' sweet taste.  Thus a mean-spirited planter would harvest only sour-tasting lonzones.

They are not only nice MERIENDA to eat while watching TV, CAMPING, or waiting in line, lonzones can be used to ward off mosquitoes.  My aunt saved the lonzones' skin, dried them, and burned them to smoke out those bloodsuckers.

Another fruit, which is reputed to "smell like hell and tastes like heaven" is durian.  According to most, a well-ripe durian has the consistency of a jack fruit.  The one we ate was over-ripe; it was mushy like pudding.  It definitely smelled like hell, if hell smelled like old onions and mustard emanating from one's unwashed underarms.  Our mush was paradise lost, but its candy version at least gave us a hint of heaven ( milk and honey ).

Left: Durian, Papaya, Plum, Rambutan, and Mango.

The birds and the bees

Hello Readers,

How do you explain ( or evade ) the birds and the bees to a curious child? By using food analogy of course!

My aunt asked if I remember living in the old house ( one of many old houses ).  I said maybe if I see a picture.  My godchild interrupted: "I was there too when godfather and I were little."

"You weren't here yet ... you were still leaves of a sweet potatoe/yam ( talbos nang kamote )," she said.  Before he could ask the next question concerning pregnancy, my aunt added, "Men and women eat these leaves, and that's how people of all ages are born."

Sweets and the Tooth Fairy

Hi Readers,

On our last night in Dipolog City, we dined out at Chicken Ati-Atihan, which served unlimited rice.  I ordered Ati pecho ( tender chicken breast ) and Pandan Shake.  Conversations started with talk of a new house, family eating together, and finally the tooth fairy.

When my cousin was younger her mother told her that if a tooth from her upper teeth were to fall, she'd have to throw the tooth up to the roof; and if it were to fall from the bottom row, then she'd have to put her tooth under her pillow in order for the tooth fairy to reward her.  She became a believer after finding money the next day on her way to school.

Then we started talking about a home method of removing loose baby tooth by tying a string around it and pulling it ( using a strong force such as slamming a door, ouch? ).  My cousin's 6 months old baby doesn't have any teeth yet.  His diet consists of milk and flavored mush.  He automatically opens his mouth when food comes his way, and once in a while he'll dabble in apple cranberry juice ( pucker face ), squid broth, lugaw, jelly, and others.  He's such a fierce eater already!

I'm reminded of all the sweets I've had since arriving in Dipolog City: ube shake, queso ice cream, melon ice cream with fudge sauce, vanilla ice cream with pinipig nuts, chocolate cake, marshmallows, Durian candy, jelly candy, cup cakes, halo-halo, merengue, Milkyway, banana-Q, and soda.  I remember all the cavities I had when I was younger; I dreaded going to the dentist.  That night I brushed my teeth twice and flossed in between.

Left: Black Forest, Caramel Mocha Crunch, Ube Cake, and Mango Crunch.