By Honorary Reporter Myrtle Iris Villaraza from Philippines
Photoa = Myrtle Iris Villaraza

In the Philippines, birthday party meals in the past typically consisted of pancit (stir-fried noodles), fried spring rolls and barbecued meat. But as Filipinos grow more exposed to cuisines from other countries including Korea, such meals and even ordinary dining have gotten more diverse. 

My family enjoys a variety of Korean foods such as gimbap (seaweed rice roll), samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) and hotteok (sweet filled bun). Many Pinoys including my friends also love samgyeopsal, eating it on both ordinary days and special occasions.

To mark my father's 63rd birthday on Aug. 1, our ​​family​ ​had Korean barbecue for dinner. Because of COVID-19, we decided to eat samgyeopsal at home and bought ingredients ​and side dishes ​from a nearby Korean grocery store.

My family had samgyeopsal as dinner to mark my father's 63rd birthday.

We also had miyeokguk (seaweed soup). Under Korean tradition, people eat seaweed soup on their birthdays. This dish is usually given to mothers after ​childbirth to help them recover their strength and produce more breast milk. A Korean custom is to eat this on one's birthday ​to honor the sacrifice of one's mother in giving birth.

Koreans traditionally eat miyeokguk on their birthdays to honor their mothers.

Knowing miyeokguk’s symbolism and role in Korea, I decided to cook this soup for my father's birthday. I thought that even Filipinos can appreciate Korean customs that are meaningful and beautiful, and explained to ​​my family the dish's significance for Koreans.

My mother said, "It's meaningful that Koreans honor their mothers on their birthdays."

I cooked miyeokguk for my father on his 63rd birthday, observing a Korean tradition.

My father'​s​ birthday was made far more enjoyable thanks to the Korean feast we prepared for him.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.