BARNACHEA, John Rey M.

August 1, 2018
12 – Einstein st
21 Century Literature

Tinola: A Tale of Two Hemispheres

Tinola is a ginger and onion based soup with chicken as the usual main ingredient. It is authentic to the
Philippines and is best complimented with green papaya wedges and chili pepper leaves. However, there are
variants to this dish, such as using chayote or sayote as an alternative to papaya, as well as substituting malunggay
leaves for the chili pepper leaves (this one is for the health buffs out there). One can also add a lot of ginger to
help enhance the flavor of the soup, as well as add health benefits, although this doesn’t fare well with most
people. In the olden days, however, a live chicken is used, and, after slaughtering it, the chicken’s blood is mixed
with raw rice and put in the pot when everything is tender.
Despite being famous in the country, the origin of the dish is vague and unfamiliar to a lot of people. The
only historical account of tinola was when it was used in Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere. In the story, the
considered ‘bad’ parts of the dish, like the chicken neck, were served to the Spanish friar Damaso, whereas the
‘good’ parts, like the breast and gizzard were given to the protagonist, Crisostomo Ibarra. It can be said that this
symbolizes how Rizal classified the characters – Ibarra being the lead character and Damaso being the antagonist.
It can also be interpreted as symbol of revolt, since tinola is native to our country, and, through the way it was
served in the story, the Spanish friar is unable to enjoy the dish. This can be a subtle way of saying that the
Filipinos during that time should not allow the Spanish priests and conquistadors to exploit resources that are
ours, be it endemic to our country or not. Either way, it is one of the rare instances in which a dish would be used
in a revolution, even if it’s just a small part.
The Philippines is a melting pot of Western and Asian cultures. Influences from countries like Spain, the
United States, China, and Japan are evident in our way of life, particularly in our food. Tinola is one example of
that. Perhaps the way of cooking can be considered unique to our country, but the ingredients are not. Let’s begin
with the Filipinos’ preference for soup. Most of our meals would not be complete without a liquid-based viand,
like sinigang, and nilaga. However, this idea is not entirely native to us. It was through trading with our neighbors
from the Northwest, the Chinese in particular, that the Filipinos came upon the practice of creating savory soup
bases. Unlike our other Asian neighbors, our soups are meant to be eaten as a meal in themselves, usually paired
with rice. The vegetables used, on the other hand, are products of Western agriculture. Papaya was introduced by
the Spaniards during the 333-year occupation of the country. Chayote, on the other hand, entered the country
through galleon trade, another product of the Spanish inquisition. Despite all of this, the dish still remains unique.
Perhaps our ancestors have infused their way of cooking to materials and concepts that were not yet found in the
country. The end result is one of the most famous soup-based dishes in the country.
At the end of the day, our culture really is like a jigsaw puzzle with parts coming from various parts around
the globe. Some parts look similar, some look very different from one another, but when pieced together they
form a picture, and that picture is our identity. We can all agree that being subjected to the rule of various countries
took a toll on our cultural identity. Currently, we are heavily Westernized, but some of our values and beliefs still
resemble our true origin. Indeed, our country is a bridge between the western and the eastern hemisphere.
References:
Ang Tinolang Manok ni Padre Damaso. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.spot.ph/arts-culture/46769/ang-tinolang-manok-ni-padre-
damaso

Chicken Tinola Recipe - Panlasang Pinoy. (2018). Retrieved from https://panlasangpinoy.com/2014/12/02/chicken-tinola-recipe/

Filipino Soups. (2018). Retrieved from http://famouswonders.com/filipino-soups/