The Harsh Reality: 'Pagpag' - Food from Garbage in the Philippines.
Summary
TLDRThe 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
🗑️ 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.
🍗 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.
🌆 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.
🏥 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.
🏘️ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Garbage
💡Recycling
💡Organic Waste
💡Pagpak
💡Slum
💡Poverty
💡Income Disparity
💡Food Vendors
💡Adobo and Caldereta
💡Malnutrition
💡HACCP
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
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