Small Project 2: Mini Diliman Ethnographies

Place: Lutong Bahay (LB) Cafeteria in Area 2

What I see:

1.     Green tray food with 3 sections to place rice, 2 viands, and a sauce

2.     Wall displays (pictures) of fruits, coca-cola with a sign of Have you opened a coca-cola today?,” and men playing football

3.     A tarpaulin at the back of the table where the main dishes are sold, where other menu is written. Tarpaulin says: The Original Lyn’s Lutong Bahay: Combolicious Meals

4.     Wall clock

5.     Airconditions (Brand: Kolin)

6.     Black and red striped backpack of a boy wearing shorts and shirt

7.     A dog

8.     Tables and mono blocs (chairs)

9.     Gray jackets

10.  Converse backpack

11.  Plastic cups (yellow, green, pink)

12.  Water jag

13.  Ice cubes

14.  Tongs

15.  Utensils (spoons and forks)

16.  Wallet

17.  Spyder Helmet

18.  “God Bless Our Home” Sign at the doorpost

19.  yellow wristband

20.  toothpick

21.  condiments (salt, soy sauce, vinegar, chilli, ketchup)

22.  loom bands

23.  eggs

24.  tocino

25.  little girl running around wearing sando and shorts

26.  old man carrying barbeques to grill

27.  rice

28.  watch

29.  softdrink cases with bottles (sprite, coke) – Sakto coke and sprite bottles

30.  lumpiang shanghai

31.  2 girls talking and laughing while eating; one wearing a pajama or a jogging pants

32.  mirrors on both sides of the canteen

33.  baskets

34.  hotdogs

35.  fried siomai

36.  a middle-aged lady carrying a big silver CLN paperbag and brought out several green puto  inside

37.  thermos

38.  A sign of “Smart/Globe/Sun Load Here”

39.  People quietly eating their food

40.  Students falling in line to get food

41.  Men coming in and out with trays of food

42.  Rice (plain and fried)

43.  Middle-aged lady, taking orders at the counter and serving the food

44.  Old man putting rice on tray food

45.  More backpacks

46.  A boy yawning while eating

47.  People lining up to get water in the water jag

48.  A boy-helper filling in the ice jag with ice cubes

49.  Fruits and blender

50.  Milk

51.  People coming in and out

52.  Students wearing shorts, tshirts, slippers, or sandals

53.  Coins

54.  The middle-aged lady at the counter talking with the little girl wearing the sando and shorts

What I hear

1.     May dalawang piso ka?

2.     Ate, magkano isa?

3.     Penge apat

4.     Dapat binigay na lang kay Reyes?

5.     Take out?

6.     Oy, ano ba?

7.     Rice? Ilan?

8.     May sauce ka?

9.     Pakuha fork

10.  Hahaha… (more laughters)

11.  Oo kaya..

12.  Paano na kaya ako pag ako na?

13.  Forty lahat!

14.  Tak-tak-tak-tak

15.  May tatlong piso ka jan?

16.  Araw-araw?

17.  Thank you.

18.  Eto te, siomai!

19.  Mommy, kausapin ka ni Mama Jo.

20.  Sabihin m okay Mama Jo, sandal lang

21.  Oy eto na, eto na

22.  Tocino po at hotdog

23.  Uy anong bagay ba?

24.  Isang rice lang, noh?

25.  Oy, hingi ka pa ng itlog dun sa kusina

26.  Kelan? Ano gusto mo gamut?

27.  Perez apelyido mo?

28.  Anong gamut mo jan?

29.  Balik mo nga dun

30.  Isang order nga ng siomai

31.  Pwedeng 3 siomai tapos 4 na shanghai?

32.  Isang order ng asado tapos, ano pa?

33.  San ka pupunta bukas?

34.  Uy kuha ka ng yelo.

35.  Eto, sixty-eight lahat!

36.  (Dog barking)… arf arf arf

37.  (Door banging)

38.  San ka na?

39.  Inaantok pa ko

40.  Okay, sige punta ko

41.  Ate fried rice sa kin

42.  Oy, sabay na ko sayo?

What I infer?

            The Lutong Bahay, located in Area 2 is a popular place to go by students. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dormers and students are the usual people who go to this place toe breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The food is cheap so there are many customer. It is owned by a family and the middle-aged woman at the counter is the of the cafeteria. She also lives in the place with her family. The little girl could be her daughter or grand daughter. She hired a lot of helper-boys. They get to have many customers everyday and I guess people love their food. The cafeteria profits a lot since the place is airconditoned and the continuous flow of food and rice never ends. They also own the fruit shake stand outside their café.

What I Interpret

            University of the Philippines is a home to many food establishments and restaurants to cater to the students, faculty and passers-by. Not only it is popularly known as a hub for outstanding students and outspoken activits, it is also known for its budget-friendly food establishments. Food is a thriving business inside the university. Front houses within the UP compound are most of the time converted to eateries and cafeteria and some have stood and stayed for years and decades already. Dormers and students who are on a tight budget are the usual and loyal customers. Good food, cheap price, good ambience are 3 of the most common reasons why people and students patronize a university’s cafeteria or establishment. Food is important and a necessity and every student needs proper nourishment not only in order to survive a day in school but in order to become excellent in their academics. The UP Lutong Bahay has grown its popularity among the students because they get to be full and nourished in spite of a lack of budget. Also, the ambience make the students feel at home since every food served are the usual home cooked meals.