Language, culture, religion and food. The Spaniards have heavily influenced the Philippines in all these aspects, and more.

Seafood Paella

The Filipino language has Spanish words mixed in it. We can count in Spanish: uno dos tres quatro singko. We tell the time in Spanish: Alas dos (2 o’clock), Ala una y medya (half past one). Our names and surnames are in Spanish too: Maria Gloria Isabella Paulo Diego Carlos Juan Pedro de los Santos.

The culture. We have our regular siesta and go all out and totally loving our fiestas and festivals. Flores de Mayo (May Festival – of flowers), Todos los Santos (All Saint’s Day – for the dead), Semana Santa (Easter).

The religion – the Philippines is the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia. Roman Catholic churches are still up and standing and being used across the country, and festivals are, again, religiously followed.

And lastly, the food. Where do I begin? From the ingredients used, to the method of cooking, to the actual recipes – the Spanish influence is seen through and through from the start to the finish. Oh and did I mention that even the Kusina (kitchen), kubyertos (cutlery) and plenty other kitchen-related gadgets are called by their Spanish names too?

The Fiesta is about to start

So to celebrate this fusion of Filipino and Spanish influence that makes up what the Philippines is today, I thought I should share this wonderful Spanish dinner party for a friend’s birthday. And yes, most if not all of them were of Spanish/Filipino heritage.

Tapas

The tapas, as all other tapas, were addictive. These finger foods were bite sized nuggets of goodness that you just keep going for- not knowing you’ve probably finished off the whole plate!

Tapas - stuffed olives

The garlic mushrooms were simply amazing – the mushrooms were wonderfully infused with the garlic and combine it with the chorizo makes for very good plates of tapas.

Champiñones al ajillo by Ger

Chorizo by Ger

Gambas. Succulent prawns sauteed rightly with garlic and a secret soy sauce sarsa by Pete. I could’ve mopped the sauce off the plate with the Toast with Olive Pate if I wasn’t in a party. Oh wait, maybe I did mop it off.

Gambas by Pete (prawn and soy sauce dish)

Toast with olive pate by Ger

Sangria

My friend Cat is known for her Sangria. White or red OR white and red, – she does not discriminate colours! She mixes it with this secret technique that makes it seem like a non-alcoholic drink that you keep going back for (I say secret because everytime I try recreating it, I couldn’t seem to make it taste the same as hers! Sangria special powers, my dear Caterina?).

Red sangria by Cat

The infamous white sangria by Cat

Mains

Sandro is a chef. Hands down, every single creation he makes, no matter how simple they may be, somehow almost always turns into something unique and dare I say it, gourmet! This mushroom risotto may just be another risotto, but the addition of some Spanish flavours makes it a bit more special than your usual bowl of arborio rice.

Mushroom risotto by Sandro

I must say, I have never tasted this dish before. Bacalao. Codfish and potatoes and tomatoes together. Oh and a bit of capsicum. But surprisingly, it was beautiful. Just think of it as the Moor-ish version of a ratatouille with the addition of fish.

Bacalao ala vizcaina by Ger (codfish, potatoes and tomato dish)

This Tortilla de Patatas was to die for! I was expecting a starchy, dry interior however what greeted me was a lovely slice of moist, flavour packed potatoes with a bit of a smoky edge.

Tortilla de patatas by Ger's friend (potato omelette)

And the crowning glory: SEAFOOD PAELLA

I must warn you, the next two photos might make your irises dilate permanently for the next few minutes. Have you seen a pan of seafood paella, so colourful and wonderful and just plain beautiful, like this ever and I mean EVER in your life?

Mixed seafood paella by Miguel

Is this not sheer perfection???

Desserts

Thank you, Miss Nigella Lawson, for a wonderful Margarita ice cream recipe. It may not be Spanish, but heck it’s as close to Spain as Tequila and lime would let me. And yes, it tasted awesome!

Margarita ice cream by myself

Now, what do you get when you mix dough and chocolate together?

Churros by the husband and wife cooking tandem, Ger and Miguel

Something magical happens when you mix anything with chocolate...

Did you see how colourful, wonderful and magical it is in the Philippines? This is just a snippet of how we try and put the pride, love and beauty of the Philippines in our now Australian lives. This is only a small part of what comprises a Filipino – and yet still huge as seen in the diversity and creativity of fusing the best of both European and South East Asian worlds together.