The Harsh Reality: 'Pagpag' - Food from Garbage in the Philippines.

Summary

The video script explores the grim reality of poverty in Manila, where people sift through garbage to recycle organic waste into a dish called 'pagpak.' It documents the process from collection at restaurants to sorting in slums and eventual sale to vendors who cook it into affordable meals. The script highlights the struggles of the poor, their resilience, and the stark contrast between their food choices and the abundance in wealthier areas, reflecting the broader issue of income inequality in the Philippines.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Garbage recycling is a significant source of income for impoverished individuals worldwide, including those in Manila who sort and sell recyclable materials like metal, plastic, and paper.
• 🍽️ Organic waste, specifically from restaurants, is a valuable commodity for some, as it can be repurposed into dishes known as 'pagpak' in Tagalog, reflecting the cycle of repurposing and reuse.
• 🕒 The process of collecting and sorting food waste begins late at night, immediately after restaurants close, to ensure the waste is fresh and not rotten, highlighting the nocturnal labor involved.
• 🏙️ Manila's slums are depicted as bustling with activity, even at 3 AM, where people sort through garbage for valuable items amidst challenging conditions.
• 👥 The food waste sorting process involves various roles, from restaurant employees discarding waste to buyers and sorters who sift through garbage for edible items.
• 🥩 The most valuable waste is chicken bones with bits of meat still attached, which are then sold to food vendors in slum areas, indicating a hierarchy within the waste itself.
• 💰 Despite economic growth in the Philippines, income inequality is rampant, with one-third of Filipinos living below the poverty line and struggling to afford basic necessities.
• 🍗 The concept of 'pagpak' dishes like adobo and caldereta made from recycled food waste is a stark reality for those who cannot afford fresh food, showing the extremes of survival.
• 🍗🔄 The cycle of food waste includes restaurants, buyers, sorters, and vendors who transform waste into affordable meals for the impoverished, illustrating the circular economy of waste.
• 🌆 The contrast between the affluent commercial districts and the impoverished slums of Manila is stark, with the latter being the epicenter of food recycling and survival.
• 👶 The script also touches on the broader issues of malnutrition and poverty in the Philippines, affecting children and families, and the impact of the war on drugs on already struggling households.

Q & A

What is the main source of income for some people living in poverty who deal with garbage?

The main source of income for some people living in poverty is sorting and selling recyclable materials such as metal, plastic, aluminum, and paper, as well as organic waste from garbage.

What is the term 'pagpak' in Tagalog, and what does it signify?

'Pagpak' is an onomatopoeic term in Tagalog that refers to the action of picking up fruit from the ground and cleaning it, essentially meaning to brush off dust and soil. It is used to describe dishes made from organic waste that has been sorted, cooked, and served again.

How does the process of collecting organic waste from restaurants begin?

The process begins right after closing time, around 10 or 11 pm, when restaurant employees start cleaning up and put the trash bags containing organic waste outside. Collectors like 'Bird' then go around collecting these bags to prevent the waste from rotting.

What is the significance of the number of slums in Manila?

Manila is one of the world's top-ranking capital cities in terms of the number of slums, and one of its slums is considered the world's largest. This indicates the extent of poverty and the lack of adequate living conditions for a significant portion of the population.

How does the sorting process of garbage work in the slums of Manila?

The sorting process involves manual laborers sifting through mountains of garbage with only headlamps for light and no protective gear. They look for food waste, which is then separated from other types of waste, with chicken bones and leftover meat being the most valuable.

What is the economic situation in the Philippines despite its economic growth?

Despite economic growth, the Philippines is struggling with income distribution, with a widening gap between the rich and the poor. One out of three Filipinos is living below the poverty line, struggling to meet basic needs.

How are the chicken bones with scraps of meat used in the food recycling process?

The chicken bones with scraps of meat are packed in bags and sold to food vendors in the slums, who then cook these bones into various local dishes such as adobo and caldereta, which are sold as 'pakpak'.

What is the significance of the price of a dish of 'pakpak'?

A dish of 'pakpak' is sold at a very affordable price, around 10 pesos or approximately 21 US cents, making it accessible to those living in poverty who cannot afford fresh food.

Why is there a preference for chicken in the 'pakpak' dishes?

The preference for chicken in 'pakpak' dishes echoes the eating habits of Filipinos, especially in urban areas, where chicken is a popular and affordable protein source.

What is the impact of poverty on the food choices of those living in the slums of Manila?

Poverty forces many to resort to digging through trash for food and goods as a means of survival. The 'pakpak' dishes, made from recycled food waste, become a part of their everyday diet due to their affordability.

What challenges do the people in the slums face regarding nutrition and food safety?

People in the slums face challenges of malnutrition and exposure to various diseases due to the consumption of 'pakpak', which is not hygienic and can contain harmful bacteria from the waste it originates from.

Outlines

00:00

🗑️ Garbage as a Livelihood in Manila

The script introduces the paradoxical reality where garbage serves as a source of income, especially for the impoverished. It details the process of recycling organic waste in Manila, where food waste is sorted, cooked, and sold as 'pagpak,' a term reflecting the act of cleaning and repurposing discarded food. The narrative takes us through the early morning hours in a Manila slum, illustrating the harsh conditions faced by 'food recyclers' who sort through garbage for edible leftovers. The economic disparity is highlighted, with Manila's slums growing despite the city's economic growth, and the poor resorting to digging through trash for survival.

05:02

🍗 The Transformation of Waste into Food

This paragraph delves into the process by which discarded food waste is transformed into consumable dishes. It describes the work of 'sorters' who meticulously pick through garbage to find valuable food waste, such as chicken bones with leftover meat. These are then sold to food vendors who cook them into popular local dishes like adobo and caldereta, known as 'pakpak' when made from recycled waste. The affordability of these dishes is underscored, as they provide a means for the impoverished to enjoy flavors reminiscent of more affluent meals, such as those from fast-food chains like Jollibee.

10:02

🌆 The Cultural and Economic Dynamics of Pakpak

The script explores the cultural and economic factors that contribute to the popularity of pakpak. It discusses the influence of American fast-food culture, particularly the prevalence of fried chicken, and how the remnants of such meals become a staple for those who cannot afford the original dish. The narrative also touches on the broader issue of poverty in the Philippines, where one in three Filipinos lives below the poverty line, and the struggle to secure basic necessities is a daily challenge. The paragraph concludes with a poignant look at the customers of these dishes, who find solace in the affordable and familiar flavors of pakpak.

15:02

🏥 The Health Implications of Recycling Food Waste

This paragraph examines the health risks associated with consuming recycled food waste, such as pakpak. It contrasts the practices of food vendors in slum areas with the standards of food safety, as represented by the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) system. The script highlights the lack of hygiene and the potential for disease transmission in the preparation of pakpak, while also acknowledging the desperate circumstances that drive people to consume such meals. The paragraph also touches on the broader issues of malnutrition and poverty in the Philippines, illustrating the tragic reality faced by many families.

20:04

🏘️ The Struggle for Survival Amidst Poverty and Scarcity

The final paragraph paints a bleak picture of life in Manila's slums, where the struggle for survival is a constant battle. It discusses the extreme overcrowding and the impossibility of growing one's own food due to lack of space. The script brings the narrative full circle by returning to the garbage piles where people continue to search for food, highlighting the grim choice between starvation and consuming food from trash. The paragraph ends on a somber note, reflecting on the harsh reality that hunger can drive people to eat food that is widely recognized as being unhealthy and unsafe.

Keywords

💡Garbage

Garbage refers to waste materials or unwanted refuse. In the video, it is a source of income for impoverished individuals who sort through it to find recyclable materials or organic waste. The script mentions people in Manila making a living by selling garbage, highlighting the economic necessity that arises from poverty.

💡Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into reusable materials and objects. The video discusses various types of waste, such as metal, plastic, and paper, being sorted for recycling. It emphasizes the environmental and economic importance of recycling, especially for those living in poverty.

💡Organic Waste

Organic waste consists of materials that were once living organisms, such as food scraps. The video describes how organic waste from trash bins is sorted and repurposed into dishes called 'pagpak' in Tagalog, illustrating the resourcefulness of people in impoverished areas.

💡Pagpak

Pagpak is an onomatopoeic Tagalog term for the practice of picking up fruit from the ground, cleaning it, and consuming it. In the video, it is used to describe the process of turning discarded food waste into new dishes, reflecting the survival strategies of the poor.

💡Slum

A slum is a heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor. The script describes a slum in Manila where people sort garbage for a living, indicating the harsh living conditions and the struggle for survival in such environments.

💡Poverty

Poverty is the state of being extremely poor. The video script discusses how poverty drives people to recycle garbage and sell it for income, and it also touches on the high poverty rate in the Philippines, affecting one out of three Filipinos.

💡Income Disparity

Income disparity refers to the uneven distribution of wealth among a population. The video mentions the widening gap between the rich and the poor in the Philippines, which is a significant social issue contributing to the reliance on garbage as a source of income.

💡Food Vendors

Food vendors are individuals or businesses that sell food, often in street markets or informal settings. In the video, food vendors purchase chicken bones from garbage to cook and sell 'pagpak' dishes, showing the link between recycling and the food industry in impoverished areas.

💡Adobo and Caldereta

Adobo and caldereta are traditional Filipino dishes. The video describes how these dishes can be made from recycled food waste, such as chicken bones with leftover meat, indicating the cultural adaptation to economic constraints.

💡Malnutrition

Malnutrition refers to a state of poor nutrition, which can be due to a lack of food or a lack of a balanced diet. The script mentions children suffering from malnutrition due to poverty, which is a severe health issue in the Philippines.

💡HACCP

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, an international standard for food safety. The video includes a chef's opinion on the importance of HACCP in contrast to the practice of recycling food waste into dishes like 'pagpak', highlighting the health risks associated with such practices.

Highlights

Garbage is a source of income for the impoverished, with recyclable materials like metal, plastic, and paper providing a livelihood.

In Manila, some individuals make a living by selling sorted organic waste from garbage.

Organic waste is sorted, cooked, and served again as dishes known as 'pagpak' in Tagalog.

Pagpak refers to the act of picking up fruit from the ground and cleaning it, symbolizing the recycling of food waste.

Food recyclers in Manila's slums face harsh conditions, working through rain and darkness to sort waste.

Buyers collect food waste from restaurants post-closing time, contributing to the recycling process.

The sorting process involves separating food waste from other trash, with chicken bones being particularly valuable.

Economic growth in the Philippines has not reduced poverty; instead, the wealth gap is widening.

One-third of Filipinos live below the poverty line, resorting to digging through trash for food and goods.

Restaurants cook chicken bones into popular local dishes like adobo and caldereta, known as pakpak.

Pakpak is an affordable meal option for those who cannot afford fresh meat, selling for as low as 10 pesos per dish.

The Philippines' cultural mix influences its eating habits, with a preference for chicken reflected in the popularity of pakpak.

American fast food culture is influential, but for the poor, the reality is making do with what little they can afford.

Pakpak represents the harsh reality for those who cannot afford restaurant meals, resorting to recycled food waste.

The transcript explores the journey of pakpak from garbage to meal, highlighting the struggles of the poor.

Food vendors and individuals purchase chicken bones to cook their own pakpak at home.

Despite the risks of disease from unhygienic practices, pakpak is a necessity for survival for many.

The transcript concludes with a reflection on the desperate measures taken by the poor to avoid starvation.

Transcripts

[Music]

garbage is a source of income for many

people around the world

especially those who live in poverty

metal debris plastic aluminum paper cans

different types of bottles that have

been discarded will be sorted before

being sold or sent to recycling plants

some poor people in Manila make a living

from selling garbage

but there is another type of garbage

Market

the type of garbage they're looking for

is organic waste

just like many other recycling processes

organic waste from trash bins is sorted

cooked and served again as new dishes

these dishes are called in Tagalog

pagpak which is in onomatopoeic term

referring to the action of picking up

fruit from the ground and cleaning it it

basically means brushing off the dust

and soil

[Music]

three o'clock in the morning in a slum

in Manila we arrived to see a day in the

life of a food recycler

we wandered through the rain stomping

along muddy streets filled with potholes

and puddles

it's been drizzling all night here in

Manila the bumpy street is swamped by

the water

under the dim light of torches and

Street lamps accompanied by drizzling

rain

the sound of cars passing by and the

roosters growing

we sat down by a pile of garbage and

began our conversation with birds

I needed

[Music]

after the restaurants which are the

origin of this organic waste the next

people in this recycling process are the

buyers who collect food waste from these

restaurants the process starts right

after closing time at around 10 or 11 pm

once the restaurant is closed the

employees start cleaning up the place

and put the trash bags containing

organic waste outside

Bird's job is to go around collecting

the bags from various restaurants

quickly so that the waste won't be

rotten

this collection is usually done by

midnight

eight o'clock

[Music]

Manila is one of the world's top ranking

capital cities in terms of the number of

slums

one of the slums here is also considered

the world's largest

economic growth in recent years has not

ameliorated the situation on the

contrary poverty is soaring

from various restaurants across the city

bird drove his truck containing the

trash bags to this pile of garbage in

the slum

the sorters are already here waiting

they offload the truck and start to sort

the garbage def plane

Robin

so usually

[Music]

mountains of garbage giving off a foul

odor surround us in the darkness with

only the sorter's headlamps lighting the

scene as they work relentlessly and

Against Time

no need for masts to protect them from

the dust and smell nor proper clothing

for this filthy work

only bare hands are needed as they did

fearlessly through this mixture of

leftovers and other trash

their job is to look for food waste

scattered throughout a pile of garbage

other leftovers are ignored the only

things they need are chicken bones with

bits of meat left over by whoever

now can you please

foreign rice and vegetables are set

apart ready to be sold as animal feeds

such as for pigs chicken bones are not a

pig's favorite so they're placed in a

different bag

the content of this last bag is the most

valuable and the most sought after the

chicken bones with scraps of leftover

meat still attached

by the time the sun rises the Sorting is

done

chicken bones with the bits of meat are

packed in bags of 10 kilograms each

from the garbage pile bird sells the

chicken bones to food vendors in this

slum

despite the steady growth of the economy

the Philippines is still struggling with

the distribution of income

the already huge gap between the rich

and the poor is whitening more and more

one out of three Filipinos is living

below the poverty line they struggle to

get the bare necessities

it's a challenge just to put food on the

table

digging through a pile of trash for food

and goods has become a way for many

people to survive

the chicken bones with scraps of meat

have reached the third step in this

desperate process the restaurants

the restaurants cook these bones into

various dishes such as adobo and

caldereta local dishes popular among

Filipinos

adobo and caldereta made of this food

waste recovered from the garbage is

known as pakpak

the sun is rising the rain has just

stopped we're still wandering along the

swampy Street flanked by ramshackle

dwellings made out of tin

locals are roaming around

we've reached another step in the food

recycling process

the shop has been open since Dawn a huge

walk is set on a stove the sound of

distant roosters crawling can be heard

from time to time

this morning meal is caldereta a

Filipino style stew in which meat is

slowly cooked in tomato paste

she starts by preparing the ingredients

which includes washing the chicken bones

in water four times and letting them dry

next she fries shallots to bring out

their aroma and then add the washed

chicken bones and a pinch of salt

the secret is the tomato sauce

as well as adding flavor it also covers

the unpleasant odor coming from the

garbage

mix it well then leave it on a low flame

for another 15 minutes now we have a hot

dish of caldereta ready to be served

each dish is sold at 10 pesos or around

8 Thai baht or about 21 us cents

foreign

for the chicken bones she bought from

bird

the whole bag is then cooked into pack

pack which can be sold for 200 pesos or

about three dollars and 40 cents

after deducting all the expenses she's

left with 50 pesos or just 85 us cents

[Music]

Indonesia

this man is a regular customer here

he collects or buys expired eggs and

sells them at low prices

after selling all his eggs he stops here

to eat

apart from the good flavor he also comes

here because of the affordable prices

a dish of pakpak is eaten with some rice

he brought from home

the whole meal cost him less than 10

Baht or about 26 Cents

why is most backpack made with chicken

this Echoes the eating habits of

Filipinos especially those who live in

the city

the Philippines is a Melting Pot of

different cultures it's a mix of Island

Traditions Chinese Merchants classic

Spanish culture and modern American

commercialism

[Music]

the American fast food culture is very

influential here

popular dishes include burgers and fried

chicken fried chicken is so popular that

the Philippines even has their own Fried

Chicken brand with its familiar flavor

and affordable price Jollibee a local

fast food chain has built the largest

market share in the Philippines

outselling famous U.S franchises like

McDonald's Burger King and KFC

big crunchy pieces of fried chicken from

Jollibee are a dream food for poor

people but the chicken bones with bits

of meat people leave after eating at

Jollibee are all they can actually

afford in real life

foreign

[Music]

no criticism or condemnation

their only feeling is that others have

more opportunity

though they dream of having a piece of

fried chicken from a fast food chain

those dishes remain out of their reach

Jollibee sells a piece of fried chicken

with rice for 95 pesos or 1.64 cents

while a dish of pack pack costs only 10

pesos or 17 Cents Only once or twice in

a very long time might they bite the

bullet and pay for a hot and fresh piece

of fried chicken with meat on it one

that has not been in a trash bin but in

their everyday lives pagpak is probably

the closest they will get to their dream

dish

the backpack Journey which begins in the

garbage has reached its destination in a

dish for those who rarely have a chance

to eat whole pieces of fried chicken

other than food vendors who purchase

chicken bones to make bagpack for sale

the bones are also packed into smaller

portions for anyone who wishes to buy

them to cook at home

we continue our journey through ruins

and Decay which reflect the scarcity and

famine in the neighborhoods

this granny is selling chicken bones in

small packs

clients are the residents of the area

this mother has come with her baby to

buy the chicken bones to make her own

backpack for the family

though we can afford fresh food we

couldn't help stepping in and buying

some from the granny

once she finds out that we're not locals

she eagerly tells us the recipe for

adobo a popular local dish in the

Philippines

[Music]

from tin Shacks that sell backpack in

the slum area we travel back to the

origin of this recycled food

here is a modern commercial District in

Manila

everything is clean and organized

apparently only those with purchasing

power which is a small group here in the

Philippines come here to spend their

time and money

we order some food

the dish reminds us of the bag pack we

just saw

the chef here acknowledges the existence

of pakpak and gives us his honest

opinion

besides

food I'm trained

analysis critical control points it's an

international standard for food safety

HACCP so they don't recommend

um recycling food you you can you can

um

you can take whatever leftovers you have

and eat it the following day but not to

recycle what whatever is eaten and

pre-cook it give me some

if you well if for example there's so

many food

I suggest

actually you can take it home and do it

if I didn't want to take it home okay

I'm staying the hotel tonight I don't

have like you know way to actually hit

it tomorrow okay so you don't have any

plans eating it again yeah

I suggest you just throw it away

you can or just give it to just pack it

up take it out and just give it to to

whoever wants it because that's the

difference from because

they just they throw it in the trash

already right unlike if you take it out

they pack it neatly then you can do

whatever you want with it unlike

backpack right it's thrown away and it's

mixed with other food ingredients it

gets mixed up with the bacteria with the

leftovers and who knows what's inside

poverty has long been a chronic problem

in the Philippines combined with a

skyrocketing birth rate contributing to

a population of over 100 million all

this has pushed one out of every 10

households in the Philippines below the

poverty line with an average daily

income of less than 50 Baht or not even

two US Dollars roughly 1.5 million kids

only eat one meal a day one out of three

children under the age of five suffers

with cretinism

eight out of ten children aged between

six months and five years don't have

enough food to eat and have developed

chronic malnutrition

that includes the youngest member of

this family

[Music]

you want you want you want something

okay

yeah you can take as much as you want I

didn't bring him his to hospital there

so I didn't know if why he is I think a

little bit thin he's a little bit thin

for his age

so you think because of he doesn't have

enough lights I mean maybe you know

the mother is well aware that her

child's deformed body is a sign of

malnutrition

but her tiny income doesn't allow her to

provide enough food to all of her six

children

so you think they have enough protein to

eat

because every day we need to eat a

balanced diet every day but I can

achieve them

what is this

what we have

me

anymore

there's nothing nothing I can't provide

to give you the give him a meal because

she's the one who get here because I'm

in work so since when that since when

that he stopped taking milk

one year old two years old so he only

had meal for one one year yeah

in the illegal drugs destroy

in and ruined family relationships

president duterte's War on Drugs has

affected the livelihoods of many poor

families

it has worsened the situation of already

poor families

[Music]

her husband was shot and killed by the

police

despite having no connection to drug

crimes but just because he happened to

be walking near the area where the

operation was taking place the family

was left without their father figure

the mother had no choice but to bring

all six children to come to live with

her parents one of her children is now

being taken care of by the staff of a

private social organization which works

with children my husband

he set up

and I asked the officers why he is into

the hill they said to me that

your husband is in the area of by bus

operation although you're not in the

house but you're in the perimeter then

you you are guilty too yes yes

I think it's 15 meters in the area

everyone who's in the area

will get the police the officer

so maybe I'm worried about the food

because the the one they get the one the

intake is their body is not good enough

there's less vitamins less minerals

because of the kind of food they eat so

if I will given a chance of course I

want to give best food for my children

but you just cannot I cannot the money

they have is not enough so it's only one

or two of them feeding ten children 10

members of the family so I don't think

that uh we have worked but it's not

enough really to really uh support the

needed food of the children if you will

see you can read our news for every 10

children there are still four to six

children who are still minorities under

five years old photo success a lot yeah

that's a lot so I don't think that we're

already good in terms of nutrition

problem in the Philippines thank you

very much man

these kids with malnutrition should

immediately be placed under a doctor's

care

but the issue is severe widespread and

out of control in the Philippines

Manila has always been densely populated

still many people are flooding in to

search for better opportunities in the

capital city

every inch is packed with people

including cemeteries which are often

turned into housing for the living

instead

tackling food scarcity by growing their

own food is hardly possible in Manila as

seen with this family

eleven people are living in a 10 square

meter space

it already seems impossible to organize

sleeping space for everyone let alone

any space for vegetation or livestock

we are back to the same spot where we

were this morning

there are still people digging through

the piles of trash hoping to find

something to sell to food vendors to

make backpack or to take home to cook

their own pack pack for their family

we keep wondering to ourselves how

hungry do you have to be to eat food

from other people's trash

because they are fully aware that pakpak

is not hygiene and it exposes them to

various diseases

[Applause]

foreign

[Laughter]

you either die of starvation or live off

garbage

[Music]

okay

[Music]

foreign

thank you