This Grandma Cooks Garbage Food Waste To Survive In The Philippines | THE VOICELESS #15

Asian Boss

11 Jul 201908:27

Summary

TLDRThe video features 'Má Rosita,' a 68-year-old woman who makes a living by collecting leftover food, known as 'pagpag,' from garbage and selling it. Despite its origins, she ensures the food is thoroughly cleaned and safe to eat. Rosita has been doing this for six years, starting her day at 3 am to gather the best leftovers. A meal costs around 60 cents, though most customers pay only 20 cents. The video explores the legality and health concerns of pagpag, with Rosita and others in her community defending its necessity for survival. It also touches on the local authorities' stance, who have not intervened despite the practice being illegal.

Takeaways

👵 Má Rosita, 68 years old, cooks and sells leftover food (pagpag) to survive.
♻️ Despite claims that the food comes from the trash, it is thoroughly cleaned and considered safe.
🍗 Pagpag is made from leftover food, particularly from fast food, and is common in this area.
⏰ Má Rosita starts collecting leftovers as early as 3 AM to get the best quality food.
💸 She sells pagpag for around 20-60 cents USD, making around $4-6 per day.
🍳 Fried foods are the most popular items among her customers, especially the children.
🚫 Pagpag selling is technically illegal, but Má Rosita hasn’t faced complaints or legal action.
🦟 Other pagpag collectors sometimes spray food with chemicals to prevent maggots, but Má Rosita cleans it thoroughly.
👮 Health inspectors and police occasionally visit but have not stopped her due to the lack of complaints.
🔄 Má Rosita plans to continue this work as long as she can, as it is her main source of income.

Q & A

Who is Má Rosita, and how old is she?
-Má Rosita is a 68-year-old woman who cooks and sells leftover food known as pagpag to survive.
What is pagpag, and why do people say it comes from trash?
-Pagpag is food made from leftovers collected from trash bins. Although some claim it's from the trash, Má Rosita ensures it's clean by washing it properly before cooking.
How long has Má Rosita been selling pagpag?
-Má Rosita has been selling pagpag for about six years.
What time does Má Rosita start collecting leftovers, and why does she start so early?
-She starts collecting around 3 AM to ensure she gets the best leftovers, as food sometimes arrives as early as 2 AM.
How much does a serving of pagpag cost?
-A plastic bag full of fried pagpag costs around 60 cents USD, but most people buy smaller portions for 20 cents, as it's all they can afford.
How much does Má Rosita earn daily from selling pagpag?
-She earns between 4-6 USD per day, which is around 90,000 to 130,000 Vietnamese dong.
What is the most popular dish among Má Rosita’s customers?
-Her fried dishes are the most popular, as they are the ones customers enjoy the most.
Is selling pagpag illegal, and why?
-Yes, selling pagpag is illegal because some pagpag collectors spray chemicals on the food to prevent maggots. However, Má Rosita cleans the food thoroughly, ensuring it's safe to eat.
Why does Má Rosita continue selling pagpag despite it being illegal?
-She continues because it's her main source of income and how she survives. She hasn’t received any complaints or health violations, so she feels it’s safe to continue.
How do health inspectors and the community view Má Rosita's pagpag business?
-Health inspectors have visited but never raised concerns about her food being dirty or unsafe. The police have also observed her business and commented that the food looks fresh.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ Pagpag: A Livelihood from Leftovers

This paragraph introduces 'Má Rosita,' a 68-year-old woman who has been making a living by preparing and selling pagpag, which are leftovers from restaurants, for 6 years. Despite the misconception that pagpag is unsafe, Rosita ensures cleanliness by washing the food properly. The community is accustomed to consuming pagpag, and it is a common means of survival. Rosita starts her day early, around 3 am, to collect the best leftovers and cooks until noon. The pagpag, particularly the fried dishes, is a favorite among customers. The price is very affordable, with a full plastic bag of fried pagpag costing only 60 cents, although most people buy it for 20 cents. Rosita earns between 4 to 6 dollars a day, which is a significant income considering the local economic conditions. The narrative also touches on the legality and health concerns of selling pagpag, with Rosita asserting that despite its illegal status due to improper handling by some, her pagpag is safe as she washes it thoroughly.

05:01

🛡️ The Reality of Selling Pagpag

The second paragraph delves deeper into the life of those involved in the pagpag trade. It discusses the methods used by collectors to retrieve food from garbage and the喷洒 of chemicals to deter maggots, which raises health concerns. However, the speaker asserts that no one has fallen ill from consuming the pagpag they sell. The speaker is adamant about continuing the trade despite its illegality, as it is a necessary means of survival. The majority of pagpag buyers are children, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of this practice in their community. The speaker also mentions that while health inspectors and police occasionally visit, they have never raised any issues or received complaints about the pagpag being unsanitary. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's consent to have their story shared on social media to raise awareness about the lives of those who rely on pagpag for their livelihood.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡pagpag

Pagpag refers to a practice in the Philippines where leftovers from restaurants, particularly from fast-food chains, are collected, washed, and resold. In the video, it is a means of survival for the elderly woman, Rosita, who collects and cooks these leftovers to sell. The term is central to the video's theme of resourcefulness and resilience among the poor.

💡Rosita

Rosita is the elderly woman featured in the video who collects and sells pagpag. She is a central character whose actions and life choices illustrate the video's message about survival and the lengths people will go to make ends meet. Her name is used to humanize the practice of pagpag and to provide a personal connection to the story.

💡survival

Survival in this context refers to the struggle of individuals, like Rosita, to meet their basic needs, such as food and income, under challenging economic conditions. The video highlights how selling pagpag is a survival strategy for those who cannot afford regular meals, emphasizing the harsh realities faced by the impoverished.

💡income

Income, as discussed in the video, is the money earned by Rosita and others through the sale of pagpag. It is a critical concept as it directly relates to their ability to sustain themselves and their families. The video mentions that Rosita's income from selling pagpag ranges from 4-6 dollars a day, which is a modest sum that underscores the precarious nature of her livelihood.

💡leftovers

Leftovers are the food items that are not consumed by customers in restaurants and are discarded. In the context of the video, leftovers are the raw materials for pagpag. The term is significant as it highlights the resourcefulness of turning what is considered waste into a source of sustenance and income.

💡illegal

Illegal in the video refers to the legal status of selling pagpag, which is considered a health hazard and is therefore prohibited. The term is important as it adds a layer of risk and moral complexity to the practice, suggesting that while it is a means of survival, it is also against the law.

💡health inspectors

Health inspectors are mentioned in the video as officials who might potentially enforce the law against selling pagpag. Their presence in the narrative serves to underscore the tension between the need for survival and the need for public health and safety.

💡waste

Waste in this context refers to the discarded food that is collected to be made into pagpag. The term is significant as it reflects the video's exploration of the cycle of consumption and disposal, as well as the creative ways in which waste is repurposed in the face of poverty.

💡resell

Resell in the video refers to the act of buying something, in this case, food leftovers, and then selling it again for a profit. This is a key part of the pagpag business model and is central to the video's theme of entrepreneurship and survival in the face of poverty.

💡fast-food chains

Fast-food chains are mentioned as the source of the leftovers that are collected to be made into pagpag. The term is relevant as it connects the video's narrative to the broader context of food waste in the fast-food industry and the social implications of such waste.

💡sustainability

Sustainability, while not explicitly mentioned in the video, is an underlying concept related to the practice of pagpag. It raises questions about how societies can better manage food waste and support vulnerable populations in a way that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

Highlights

Má Rosita, 68 years old, survives by cooking and selling leftover food.

Despite concerns, Má Rosita ensures the food is thoroughly washed and cooked to make it safe for consumption.

Many people think the food comes directly from garbage, but Má Rosita emphasizes the cleanliness and care taken in preparation.

Selling leftover food (pagpag) is a common practice in their area for survival.

Má Rosita started this work around six years ago, waking up as early as 3 AM to collect leftovers.

She sells fried pagpag for about 60 cents per plastic bundle, but most people can only afford 20 cents.

On average, she earns around $4 to $6 a day, which is her primary source of income.

Fried dishes are the most popular among her customers, especially with children.

Má Rosita collaborates with collectors who gather leftover food from various garbage bins.

Selling pagpag is technically illegal, but many continue the practice due to a lack of other income sources.

Some collectors spray chemicals on the leftovers to prevent maggot infestation, but Má Rosita cleans the food thoroughly to remove these chemicals.

Despite the illegality and potential health risks, Má Rosita continues this work to survive.

Health inspectors have visited but have never stopped her business, indicating the cleanliness and cooking methods used might meet basic safety standards.

Má Rosita is open to sharing her story on social media to shed light on the lives of people like her.

She intends to continue this work as long as there is demand and she is physically able, as it's her main livelihood.