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Profile Can't afford to go to the Philippines? Visit National City By Liberty Solis March 6, 2006 National City, CA--If you think Little Italy is as east as you’ll go on a culture map of San Diego, think further. Have you ever heard of San Diego’s own Little Manila? It’s probably one of the only places that you’ll never find a Karaoke mic untouched, one of the only places that you can get a quality combination platter for a bargain price of five bucks. National City is home for many Filipino families – more than 20 percent of San Diego’s total Filipino community. According to the Economic Development Department of National City, the city has the largest Filipino population of any city in the U.S., and the largest Asian population in San Diego. Why is National City every Filipino’s haven? “It’s a one stop shop; you can grab a bite to eat, fish to cook for the next day and catch up with your cousin across the street,” says Michael Catacutan, a frequent diner in National City.
Halo-Halo, meaning “mix-mix,” is the melted ice-cream served over shaved ice with Asian tropical fruits and beans, and if it’s a “special,” it’s served with leche flan in between. On the Philippine Islands, it provides refreshment from the humid tropical weather. Since National City is the melting pot for San Diego Filipinos, it seems only right that Halo-Halo provides the same treatment for transplants experiencing San Diego’s warm climate. Most of the Filipino restaurants in National City use a system called turo-turo, or “point-point,” in which patrons point to the food they would like to include in their platter. Tita’s Kitchenette, Point-Point Joint, or Karihan are just a few of the spots that cater to this buffet style serving. “When you’re starving and you only have five dollars you can get a combination platter the minute you walk in,” says Catacutan. That’s not the only style of fast-food service that Filipinos have on Plaza Blvd. They have their own Jollibee, a franchise that originated in the Philippines in 1975. People may say it’s a Filipino knock-off of McDonald’s, but it sure is fast food touched with a hint of Filipino flavor. They serve sweeter hamburgers, special sweet Spaghetti sauce, and even Fried Chicken with gravy. “It’s kind of a combination of all popular fast food chains in one, along with Filipino food,” says Catacutan. If you’re wondering where to pick up all the exotic ingredients for a Filipino dish, try Manila Seafood off the 805 freeway. It has fresh seafood, cooking products imported from the Philippines, and even the latest cheesy love story, “Don’t Give Up on Us,” starring the Philippines’ hunkiest actor, Piolo Pascual and superstar Filipina actress, Judy Ann Santos. Like any other Filipino love movie, this has you crying in suspense to find out if the province-raised folk singer boy and the successful Manila girl will fall in love, despite their differences in backgrounds. The ambiance of Manila Seafood is perhaps the closest to the homeland for most Filipinos. You can’t seem to escape the sounds of the Karaoke Magic Mic testing from neighboring stores or the smell of fresh fish and freshly-baked pan de sal bread while you walk though the corridors of the grocery store. Although English is one of the primary languages for Filipinos, this is definitely a place you should go if you want to brush up on your Tagalog skills. If you’re a Filipino walking into the store, you probably will bump into at least one family acquaintance or your Mom’s friend’s cousin’s sister. To play it safe, add “po,” a sign of respect for elders, at the end of every sentence. You can’t go wrong saying, “Have a nice day, po!” even if most of your Tagalog is Taglish (Taglish being the mixture of Tagalog and English). If you’re a younger Filipino looking for good night life in National City, the closest substitute is probably a night out with your Uncle Boy at Trophy Lounge, which serves as the catalyst for many military reunions and good happy hour conversations. “It is also said to be the place where sailors meet all the older single Aunties,” says Palanca. Although National City is looked at as home for most San Diego Filipinos, it’s also the best place for anyone to go to get a taste of Filipino hospitality and culture (besides the Philippines, of course). So, if you ever find yourself driving down Plaza Blvd., stop in and take a mini adventure vacation. Just make sure you bring an empty stomach and save room for dessert. -------------------- Liberty Solis is a freelance writer. This is her first contribution to Vyuz. Suggested Vyuz reading... What it's like to be straight in Hillcrest | By Leopard J. Ferry San Diego Mayor talks corruption and the Strong Mayor form of government | By Larry Knowles Steve York, UCSD pornographer, chooses law over porn | By Larry Knowles The bare facts about Brazilian waxing | By Romina Cleary A look inside Imperial Beach border patrol | By Larry Knowles A serial networker walks among us | By April Labine-Katko |
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