by Reynaldo G. Alejandro
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What is Filipino food? Is it adobo -- which has a Spanish name, yet contains chicken, pork, vegetables or even seafood stewed in vinegar and garlic, and is thus unlike any Spanish adobado? Or is it pancit -- noodles of many persuasions utilizing local ingredients, yet obviously of Chinese origin? Or would it be sinigang -- the sour broth related to similar Southeast Asian soups and stews that are cooling the hot tropical weather? Could it even be the omnipresent fried chicken -- sometimes marinated in vinegar and garlic before its fried? Or arroz caldo -- a chicken congee that is served as comfort food even on airlines?
