The first month of being vegan in the Philippines has been a whirlwind. It started with a family reunion on my father’s side. Almost everyone from abroad flew to Cavite to party. My aunts and uncles reunited once again after so long. Some of my cousins from the US hadn’t been back in more twenty years, while some nephews and nieces had never been to the Philippines at all. Loud waves of laughter and a happy singsong of conversations filled the humid but breezy air. I was back home.
For the first two weeks, we always had somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to see. We played games, sang karaoke songs, and ate to our heart’s content. Speaking of eating, my aunts made sure they have something vegan for Chris, me, and my cousin. My aunts made us Ginataang Langka, Fresh Lumpia, Kangkong Adobo, and many more.
Vegan in Siem Reap
Toward the end of the festivities, Chris and I had to fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia for yet another honeymoon (our wedding Ninang’s gift to us). Chris and I toured the temples including the majestic Angkor Wat. We also visited the workshop of Artisans Angkor, explored the Old Market, and many more. During our guided tours, we learned so much about Cambodia’s history and culture. The trip had the right balance of education and relaxation. Siem Reap offered plenty of vegan options that were delicious and inexpensive (about $2.50 per entree). Chris and I could not have asked for more. We had so much fun.
Quality time with Family and Friends
Serendipitously, the grand reunion and the honeymoon felt like a great send-off to me before going on my own with my vegan research. Almost all of my relatives from far and wide assembled in one place, and I got to spend quality time with them. I was also able to get quality time with Chris in Cambodia. I will miss everyone dearly but knowing that I have just bonded with them brings me comfort and joy.
Speaking of my vegan research, I’ve found that navigating my vegan resources here depends on the area. I’ve learned that people don’t usually venture out of their local neighborhood because traffic can be too congested. Being stuck on the road for an hour or two becomes a waste of time, so Filipinos usually rely on what’s available around them. In other words, being vegan in Cavite is entirely different from being vegan in Makati. Heck, sometimes it varies per district in the same city. Everything is hyper-local.
Vegan in Bacoor Cavite, so far
In Bacoor Cavite, I would go to the major restaurant chain, Max’s Restaurant and order their sizzling tofu but hold the mayo and margarine. The town’s mall, SM Bacoor, had restaurants with vegan options. For example, I found “Kangkong in Garlic sauce” at Lechon Haus of all places. I also spotted mock chicken, vegetable broth, and rice noodles at a buffet called “Tong Yang Plus“. And a food stall called Soy Yummy had taho or sweet soy pudding as well as fried tofu in sweet chili sauce. Outside of the mall, I would rely on convenience stores like 7-Eleven for “Soon” vegan instant ramen, “Mang Juan” vegan chicharron, and “VitaMilk” soymilk drink.
Believe it or not, Bacoor Cavite also has an all-vegan restaurant! Daniel’s Choice is a vegan Filipino restaurant in Molino, Bacoor Cavite. They have vegan ‘Longganisa‘, Spaghetti, “Lechon Kawali“, “Pandesal”, and many more. I ordered from them when Chris, my sister, her friend, and I organized a children’s outreach. Our budget was slim but the restaurant owner, KC, generously covered the rest of the cost and put together boxed meals for the kids in need. We held this outreach also in Bacoor, and the kids had a great time.
When not eating out, my aunts would cook something vegan for us. They would get their ingredients at a local public market or palengke. At the market, you can buy fresh young jackfruit, hearts of palm, coconut milk, and other fresh vegetables. I also feasted on the local fruits like lanzones, guyabano, latundan, kaimito, and more.
Vegan in Makati, so far
Branching from the provincial life of Cavite to one of the most modern and corporate places in the Philippines, Makati City, I had some adjusting to do. Makati is like the Financial district of San Francisco or the Manhattan of New York. It’s very cosmopolitan, upscale, and corporate. Almost everyone here dresses up. I would see a lot of foreigners walk by that I wonder if they’re here for vacation or they live here too.
Because Makati is diverse, it’s very vegan-friendly. So far, I found supermarkets like Landmark and Rustan’s carrying many vegan products. The specialty grocery store, Healthy Options, carry vegan products from the US and Europe, like vegan cheese, butter, candies, and vegan beauty products. Out of all big malls though, so far I like Landmark the best. It has the most variety and reasonable prices (not just compared to dollars but compared to the status of living here). For example, at their beauty section, I found a local brand, Human Heart Nature, that has the label, cruelty-free and vegan on some of their products like facial wash and toothbrush. At the Landmark supermarket, I spotted a vegan caesar dressing by “Comida Rica” And Landmark’s produce section has fresh and affordable vegetables and fruits.
Newbie Vegan Once Again
I understand that I still have so many things to learn here in Makati and in the Philippines in general. I’m barely scratching the surface. Funny enough, being here makes me feel like a newbie vegan; I’m back to having to find my vegan stuff. It’s a great reminder of what some Astig Vegan followers have to go through, which then helps me anticipate how to solve their problems.
Through this blog, social media, and YouTube, I will try my best to report back what I learn as a first-hand observer and learner. I will actively take notes and let you know my findings, whether you live here, plan to visit here, or just curious what’s vegan in the Philippines. I hope you will find my observations insightful. On top of my findings, I will also share some new recipes with you – as soon as I get my Wi-Fi installed that is! It turns out getting wi-fi here is not as smooth and straightforward as I had hoped, but I’ll reserve that for another post.