Sinigang: The Savory Taste of Life
An inviting aroma and taste of sourness left in one’s tongue, no doubt, it is the famous dish catered mostly in Filipino households – Sinigang. Sinigang is well-known in Filipino culture as most families dining has it on their tables. A perfect dish for a cold weather as well. However, Sinigang is not only sinigang, but there is also more intriguing behind the dish, there is something more than in Sinigang than what meets the eye. Like the Sinigang dish having a sour taste, Liza (main character) in the story Sinigang by Marie Aubrey Villaceran in 2001 experienced a sour feeling event in her life as well, as her father committed a sin of having an extramarital affair with another woman that broke Liza and their family. The story revolves on the preparation of the dish Sinigang wherein in each step is likened and symbolizes of what happened when Liza met her father’s mistress and narrating it to her Aunt Loleng. Amongst the many events happened, it was when Sylvia asked for forgiveness and cried so is her father during his half-brother’s funeral that left a mark on Liza’s mind.
Sinigang is a masterpiece not only as dish, but in the form of a story that conveys a message and moral lessons that are significant and valuable to acquire and apply in our everyday lives. Sinigang offers a lot of lessons we can keep.