Say your grace (not swear) before meal, Euleen
I decided to send out my thoughts to sail despite the fact that the stirred waters seem to calm down now sometime after Tiktoker Euleen Castro, also known as "Pambansang Yobab," shared in a video her experience in Coffeebreak Iloilo stating that everything she tasted were tab-ang and then freely swore under her breath before a spread of food on her table.
This blogpost of mine then is the quiet water coming back to its body after noisily hitting the seawall. Anyhow, I was gently reminded to write this down after reading the news that the Iloilo City Council is being pushed to declare vlogger Euleen Castro as persona non grata. Consultant for the Iloilo UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy PJ Arañador recommended such a move and noted that declaring her as such will set as a precedent among content creators who should all be sensitive to the livelihood sectors and enterprises whose long years of toil a blogger can only disregard out of his or her own self-promotions, whims and caprices.
At the height of the tempest, the loudest noise Euleen Castro was able to receive was body-shaming which I could fairly say she received because she was food-shaming too. Coffeebreak, in a very polite response, stated that they understand that not everyone shares the same taste preferences, and constructive criticism is acceptable and further noted that it was the first time they received such negative feedback in their 20 years of operation. Many local bloggers and opinion-makers praise Coffeebreak for its presence and space in the local culinary scene which brings about nostalgia. Even Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who acknowledged that Coffeebreak has already been a part of the community for a long time, voiced his full support for the local cafe by emphasizing the importance of supporting local businesses and their commitment to quality service. Meanwhile, some commenters pointed out that taste is subjective and that the vlogger's opinion may not reflect the experience of other customers while some suggested that such feedback should be shared privately with the business instead of publicly. In the long run, Coffeebreak patrons calmly set out their sails to get their favorite fare and intentionally posted them to promote on social media. Everything has been expressed already but I guess nobody pointed out that saying grace before a meal is an important aspect of enjoying a meal. Thus, this late decision to write down my thoughts.
Reflecting on this incident, I was personally taken aback by the swearing of Euleen Castro in front of food which she later justifies as only her expression. Who does that to food served, even if it tastes awful, even if one paid for it? Food nourishes our body, and our body nourishes our mind and all nourishment we take in is reflected in our well-being.
In many cultures around the world, expressing gratitude for food before or after a meal is a common practice, often referred to as saying grace or giving thanks. This act of prayer or reflection acknowledges the nourishment provided and the sources of the food, fostering a sense of appreciation and mindfulness. To illustrate, Christians say their grace before a meal while the Japanese say "Itadakimasu" which translates to “I humbly receive.” Muslims recite "Bismillah" translated as “In the name of Allah” before meals, to seek blessings before meals. Some Hindus offer prayers to deities or acknowledge the cosmic energy that sustains them through food. Buddhist monks chant sutras before meals to express their gratitude and mindfulness. In some Native American cultures, prayers of thanks are offered to the earth and the plants and animals that provide sustenance.
These recitations, prayers or chants before receiving a meal shows gratitude because it is a way to thank God, a higher power, or simply acknowledge the human effort and resources that went into providing the meal. It also shows mindfulness because pausing before eating encourages a mindful approach to the meal, allowing an individual to savor the food and appreciate its significance. It likewise serves as a connection because in some cultures, saying a grace in any manner before a meal is a way to connect with family, friends, or a higher power while sharing a meal. It is also a mark of humility because the act acknowledges dependence on food and resources and responsibility to share the same with others.
In essence, the act of giving thanks for food, whether through formal prayer or mindful appreciation, is a way to connect with the source of nourishment and cultivate a sense of gratitude for the blessings in life.
I consider myself as a home cook because I mostly enjoy selecting, preparing and cooking my own food. When I was first learning how to cook, my mother would finance my kitchen experiments on one condition, that is, to eat everything I prepared. I have my brother to thank for helping me out on the eating part because he ate my countless breads and cakes that had not risen because I forgot the baking powder or my over-salted, over-chilified, or over-sweetened stews. Having gone through this experience, I learned to respect food by not wasting it and also give respect to the hands that prepared them. If I get to eat the food from a restaurant that I do not like, I simply ask the servers to tell the cook to remedy the same or simply not order the same food from that restaurant again.
So for me, it is a disgrace to swear before and at the food, and there is no excuse to this even how unpalatable the food is to one’s taste buds.
To sail on farther in life, Euleen has to be reminded to express graciousness over food first.
Photo credit:
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SPECKS, A POETRY COLLECTION
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FRAMED WORDS, POEMS & ESSAYS
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