Friday, October 19, 2007

Crispy Pili
















Pilinut (Canarium ovatum) is a tree indigenous to the Bicol Region, particularly in the Province of Sorsogon. Its roots, trunk, leaves, sap and fruit has numerous industrial, commercial and medicinal uses. Pilinut kernel is taken from the nut and processed into various pilinut candies and confectioneries.

P500.00 per kilogram
Big Plastic Jar (250 grams): P150.00
Small Plastic Jar (125grams):P75.00
Order Now! contact: pinoysarisaristore@gmail.com
Domestic orders: Shipping are through LBC, JRS, AIR21
International orders: Shipping are through UPS and Fedex

Danggit

It is a salted dried fish that is best paired with hot rice and dipped in vinegar. Others prefer a mixture of vinegar and crushed chili peppers with a dash of salt. Others might want to add a little bit more of spices to enhance the flavor. Onions, garlics, ginger are some of the favorites. However it is done, the tastiness of danggit is magnified ten times when there's vinegar around. But with or without it, people still find them a very tasty treat for any meal at any time of day and at any physical condition - that is to say, whether one is hungry or not.

Dubbed as a poor man's food like any other types of dried fish, rich and poor alike love to eat this typical Cebuano delicacy. For the ultimate danggit experience, eat with your bare hands. Eating in bare hands is a Filipino way of showing humility. But setting humility aside, spoon and fork provides little assistance when eating danggit. If at all, it only makes the eating experience difficult. Setting aside man-made utensils is setting aside everything else just to enjoy a good meal of a bunch of good ol' danggit.

P________ per kilogram
Order Now! contact: pinoysarisaristore@gmail.com
Domestic orders: Shipping are through LBC, JRS, AIR21
International orders: Shipping are through UPS and Fedex

Dried "Pusit" Squid


















P________ per kilogram
Order Now! contact: pinoysarisaristore@gmail.com
Domestic orders: Shipping are through LBC, JRS, AIR21
International orders: Shipping are through UPS and Fedex

Sari-sari store

The sari-sari store is an important economic and social location in a Filipino community. It is present in almost all neighborhoods, sometimes even in every street. The word sari-sari is Tagalog for "various kinds". Most sari-sari stores are privately owned shops and are operated inside the shopkeeper's house. Commodities are displayed in a large screen-covered or metal barred window in front of the shop. Candies, canned goods and cigarettes are often displayed while cooking oil, salt and sugar are often stored in sacks or cans. A small window is also present where the customer's requested commodity is given. A cigarette lighter tied to the window can also be found. Benches and sometimes tables are also provided in front of the sari-sari store. A shade is placed above it which is also used to cover the large window when the store closes.

Economic value

The sari-sari store allows members of the community easy access to basic commodities at low costs. In the Philippines, following the concept of tingi, a customer can buy 'units' of the product rather than whole package. For example, one can buy a stick of cigarette for a peso (0.02 US dollars) rather than a whole pack. This is convenient for those who cannot buy the whole package or do not need much of it. The sari-sari store also saves the customer extra transportation costs, especially those in rural areas, since some towns can be very far from the nearest market or grocery. The store also serves as a secondary or even primary source of income for shopkeepers. The owners can buy commodities in bulk in groceries then sell them in the store at a mark-up price. Trucks usually deliver LPG and softdrinks to the store itself. The store requires little investment since the products are cheap and only a few modifications on one side of a house are needed to convert it to a sari-sari store.

Social value

The sari-sari store offers a place where people can meet. The benches provided in front of the store are usually full of men and women. Some men would spend some time drinking while women discuss the latest local news. Youths also use the place to hang out (or istambay; "to hang out", in Filipino). Children would also rest here in the afternoon after playing and buy softdrinks and snacks.