The Filipino Pancit

Many people drool at the thought Chinese dishes. They have a long vocabulary of praises for praising the Oriental cuisine. And the big appetite for it, to boot.

They say Chinese food is just delectably different. Some say it’s the ingredients; others say it’s the cooking style. For sure, both factors contribute to the unique character of Chinese cuisine – whether in mainland China or elsewhere in the world, including the Philippines.

For example, among Filipinos pancit is very familiar across social levels. Noodles are said to have been introduced into the country early on by Chinese traders. Over the centuries, pancit has been fully adopted into the local cuisine, and has become as much a Filipino dish as Chinese. And still, the Filipino pancit has numerous variants and types.

The term pancit is derived from the Hokkien “pian i sit,” which literally means “convenient food.” Different kinds of noodles can now be found in Filipino supermarkets which can then be cooked at home. Noodle dishes are also standard fare in local restaurants. Food establishments specializing in noodles are often referred to as “panciterias.”

Certain beliefs have even emerged about the pancit. When the dish is prepared for a birthday celebration, the noodle shall not be cut in order to bring on luck of a long life. Hence, Chinese restaurants in the country have thought of offering “birthday pancit” on their menus.

Many food lovers observe that the Filipino pancit is actually quite different in character from the Chinese pancit. The local pancit has its distinct taste – different but not in any way inferior to the Chinese original. In that case, the pancit of the Filipinos has become very much their own.