Apr 06 2007
Good Friday and the Tabing-Ilog Diet
Filipinos have plenty of religious Catholic traditions and practices which I’m not really sure are taught in the Bible or sanctioned by the Church. One example is holding hands during the Ama Namin at mass. Lent, and especially Holy Week, is replete with these Filipino traditions. There are the numerous processions where men flagellate themselves before swimming in the ocean and then have themselves crucified to the cross, the directive to be somber and miserable during Good Friday (mukhang Bierne Santo), and many others.
Don’t get me wrong though. I absolutely love these traditions (except being sad during Good Friday). I especially like the holding hands during the Ama Namin, although perhaps for the wrong reason. When we were dating, this gave Honey and me a valid (and holy) excuse to hold hands… right inside the church at that. I also had the chance to watch the Moriones with the masks and the flagellations in Marinduque and I loved it. When I was a still diligent nerdy piano student, Good Friday was the best time for me to practice piano. There were no TV shows to tempt me, no places to go to (besides church), and nothing much else to do. So I would break the contemplative silence (actually, my brothers and sisters would just be sleeping) with my maddeningly annoying scales and arpeggios. At 3 PM though, Mom would make me stop practicing for about fifteen minutes because this is the time of the death of Christ.
One of the most popular and widely-practiced tradition is fasting and abstinence from meat. I’ve seen a lot of fasting in the Bible but I don’t know where the abstinence from meat as part of a person’s penitence came from (not that I’m a Bible scholar or anything though). I don’t know how it could be though when most of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen, and not butchers, so they probably eat fish most of the time anyway.
And for us Filipinos, I really don’t see how eating fish and seafood could be considered a sacrifice when we have the most delicious fish and seafood in the world. So every Good Friday, when just as many Filipinos flock to the beaches as they do to the churches, they gorge on the freshest and most sumptuous seafood — inihaw na lapulapu, alimango, lobsters, sugpo, kinilaw na isda, bangus, tahong, etc.. And don’t forget — sweets and deserts are not meat either. So Filipinos also gorge themselves on bibingka, puto, espasol, panucha, buko pie, and all these delightful food which can be bought by the roads going to the provinces. And with all that, they can still manage to look mukhang Bierne Santo and have the audacity to say that they are doing their penitence… hehe! 
So that’s why they call Good Friday good.
Okay, I’m guilty of everything I just said. Right now, I’m also doing abstinence… but what a delicious abstinence it is. It is my penitence for all the sinful transfat indulgence when I was in Manila. The good thing about this abstinence thing is that it’s appropriate for my new diet — the Tabing-Ilog Diet. It’s my own Filipino-Cambodian version of the South Beach Diet (SBD) which was so named because it was developed and first became popular in Miami, Florida. The Tabing-Ilog Diet, on the other hand, is being practiced by a Pinay desperately dieting beside the Mekong River.
Don’t use this blog as reference for the SBD though. I cheat a lot. For some real SBD food, go to Ann’s blog. The first thing I cheat about is the caffeine. (Note: caffeine is not allowed in the SBD because it’s supposed to increase insulin). I mean what’s the point of drinking coffee in the morning if there’s no caffeine? Nope, decaf just ain’t for me. I’m not about to give up my Diet Pepsi either (I’ve long converted from Diet Coke). That one is definitely against my religion. I also had an ice cream dip at Dairy Queen the other day.
So this is the Tabing-Ilog Diet for Good Friday:
For breakfast, we had sardines which we just got out of the can and microwaved so it doesn’t merit a photo. But here’s the omelette with zucchini Honey cooked in olive oil. Notice how he shapes the omelette so perfectly.
For lunch, Honey baked this fish fillet with tomatoes, onions, olives, parsley, basil, and cheese. Actually, we don’t know how to use the oven so we just microwaved it.
I was the one who cooked dinner. I made Honey a tuna sandwich (he prepared the spread beforehand) on rye bread toasted in olive oil with lettuce and cheese.
I couldn’t eat bread on the Tabing-Ilog Diet so I made it into a salad.
Hmmmm, I wonder if I’ve lost any weight yet. Same as my chances of my sins being forgiven? 
Technorati tags: South Beach Diet
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Oh my gosh – NOW I AM STARVING! All the food sounds/looks so tasty!
It was interesting reading about the traditions. Some are same for American Catholics (though I’m Protestant), and many are same for Hispanic Catholics (my husband is non practicing though.)
I never knew the 3 PM thing though. That is really intersting. I wonder how they estimated that exact time?
I’ve seen on TV how men are attached to crosses and such and it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t think this is really necessary in my opinion and seems even sacriligeous to me – even though obviously they are doing it because they want to experience the pain of Christ in some way to increase faith, etc.
That is cute about holding hands
Ummm, your bread looks a bit over toasted, hehe. But hey, I like over toasted bread, mas crunchy…
But the omelette looks mighty good. Ever tried it with mushrooms? And I noticed your honey uses olive oil for frying, good choice. I would love to keep on using them but they’re just too darn expensive here…
Have a great and blessed Easter, Toe.
just got back from church hopping in laguna-cavite area. We had lunch at Lake view something something, had maliputo, seafood platter, checked in at sunrise hotel in alfonso, cavite, dinner at dencio’s, coffee at figaro, massage and sauna back at hotel while kids swam. What abstinence? As you say — delicious abstienence.
Because I was thinking — this is the life. But well, we had bisita iglesia and stations of the cross — so we commemorated His sacrifice edgewise. Ay naku.
Enjoyed (looking at) your tabing dagat diet photos. Ang galing naman ni honey sa kitchen. Hassle din sa aming gumamit ng oven. Kaya we use the turbo broiler instead.
so for the tuna sandwich..basically you only prepared the bread? wait! parang na sobrahan nga…hahahaha loko lang my friend
Anyway that’s why hindi ako mayadong naniniwala sa food fasting. I think it’s much better to fast from a habit that is hard to break like you know, blogging? or from drinking uhhhmmm diet coke? or for some people like Sngl to fast from ranting? hehehe
Anyway we had grass and leafy stuff yesterday. As expected nilunok ko lang lahat sabay inom ng tubig hehe
Hi Tee, oh I don’t know how they came up with that 3 PM. Don’t know if it’s in the Bible, but we do a lot of things not in the Bible. But I think that’s how the Spaniards converted us. They incorporated religious beliefs with our local practices that’s why our religious practices are somewhat folkloric. But it’s okay… because it’s fun and it really helps with the faith.
Yes, I don’t agree with men being nailed (yes, they’re actually nailed) to the cross but it’s like a vow for them. Hehe… yeah, the holding hands is cute during the Ama Namin (or Our Father). 
Happy Easter to you and your family Tee!
Snglguy, pareho kayo ni Honey… criticizing my toasted bread. Hmph!
I just toasted it on the pan because we don’t have a bread toaster. I like it a bit burnt too. Honey makes different kinds of omelette… yes with mushrooms or cheese or spinach or sausages. Olive oil is also expensive here so we don’t use it much… just now because of the Tabing-Ilog diet. 
Happy Easter to you too Snglguy!
Annamanila, hey you’re really living it up… yet abstinence pa rin ha. Hehe!
Well, this is the time to have good family time after all. Were there a lot of people doing the Bisita Iglesia? Or were there more people in Dencio’s? 
Hey, I finished Of Mice and Men last night… I cried my eyes out… at nandaya pa ako non ha by reading the last page. 
Verns, pare-pareho kayon ni Honey at Snglguy na critic sa aking toasted bread! Hmph! Oh, so you’re on the kambing and kuneho diet ha.
Nag-abstain din ako sa karne yesterday.
Good luck in your version of SBD.
I use Olive oil for my salad dressing and occasionally for cooking. For cooking, we use vegetable or corn oil.
Have a Happy Easter Toe and to your Honey as well.
Tabing (Mekong) Ilog Diet – hahaha that’s funny, Toe.
Good luck in your diet.
ako kapag nagdidiet e hindi kumakain, di bagay sakin ang SBD kasi….pangmayaman e lol!
I am not really into the Holy Week since my family are not Catholics except on my mother’s side.
But my god the food you have there is quite yummy! I just miss bibingka and other Filipino delicacies
Some people take it to the extremes by not bathing on Good Friday.
I agree with you that it’s easier to diet during Holy Week. But my version is the PRD..Pasig River Diet. Your Honey seems to cook well, and you’re a great sandwich maker too,haha
Tabing Ilog Diet? I think that is a very doable diet routine.
First, go to the edge of the Pasig River in Manila. Take a deep breath and whiff as much aroma as you can inhale from the stench of the water.
After throwing up all your snacks from the previous night go home and see if you still have any appetite to eat while the vision of floating residues in the dark waters of the river still lingers in your mind.
The Pinoy fasting or abstinence tradition of feasting on seafood during the lenten season is not any different than the vegetarian practice of eating vegetable by-products made into burger patties, sausages, etc. which duplicates the taste of meat as well.
mmm that looks like a delicious diet! I think the origin of not eating meat on Fridays, not just Good Friday, was an ancient practice where the early Christians did not want to eat anything with blood in it in honour of the Christ whose blood was shed on that first Good Friday… I guess fish isn’t as bloody as red meat??? I don’t know? I think that’s what I heard at a sermon once…. Anyways, I’m familiar with those traditions myself, my mother would make us turn off all t.v.’s, radios, and computer as soon as midnight struk on Good Friday! Not to be turned on again until Saturday morning….
Have a Happy Easter Toe, God Bless!
Another day, another diet, he he!
those foods looks yummy; tuna sandwich I love.. well, everything with tuna really
but for Good Friday, we had the good-old fish&chips… deep-fried and all!
Happy Easter Toe
Exactly.. I’m business as usual on Good Friday with sugpo, salmon, at para walang masabi na may meat product, grilled version pa
Siguro ang dapat gawin ay ang real fasting ng Muslim, which is from 3 AM up to 5pm the next day – no food and no water whatsoever for 40 days during Ramadan season 
Maganda raw ang effect – you lose weight, tanggal ang toxins sa katawan , pati tagi-yawat tanggal din hehe 
Leah, @#$%^ I broke my diet last night. We had an Easter party and I ate fettucini, fries, maja blanca, etc… hehehe!
Happy Easter Leah!
Thanks Daphne… broke the Tabing-Mekong Ilog Diet already kc tapos na Holy Week. Hey, what about you? Are you also through with your sabbathical? I miss your posts already.
Happy Easter Daphne!
Melai, mas mahirap yata yung Manilenya diet… absolute fasting… di ko kaya ‘yon.
Have a blessed Easter Melai! 
Chase, cool! You just got to enjoy the Easter or spring break then.
Oh, I miss bibingka too… perfect with hot cocoa. 
Ajay, malaking penitensya yata not to take a bath. I wonder why we Filipinos have many beliefs about when not to take a bath – when a girl has her period or is pregnant, when some dies, etc.. Yeah, yeah… everyone’s making alaska my sandwich.
Pasig River Diet – hahaha! 
Have a blessed easter Ajay!
Noypetes, OMG… that is soooo disgusting!
I guess that’s the bulimic version… I’m sure it would work… pati siguro sikmura ko masusuka ko non. 
Hmmm… I’ve tasted those vegetarian burgers and meat… in a word… uggh! 
Happy Easter Noypetes!
Angelo, hmmmm… then the Muslims probably got it right then because I think their halal food has something to do with purifying the animals’ blood (and not simply a no-pork diet). Yeah, Good Friday was pretty boring during our childhood isn’t it? It’s quite different now where families would enjoy their holiday in the beach.
Happy Easter Angelo! 
Pining, oh I love the British fish and chips! Happy Easter Pining!
BW, wow sarap… sugpo and salmon! Where do you get your sugpo in Canada? Oooh… Ramadan is difficult. I heard you can’t even swallow your own saliva. But I also heard that they do feast heavily once the sun goes down. Happy Easter BW!
Yes Toe I’ve managed to clear the cobwebs in my mind to come up with a measly post after my hiatus.
Happy Easter Toe
Very good observations. Agree ako dyan.
Wow, the food looks yummy!
Happy Easter!
Toe,
Akala ko naman kung ano yung Tabing-Ilog Diet. Bakit hindi mo todong tinagalog, as in Diyeta ng Taga-Tabing-Ilog? Anyway, nakakatuwa at nakakatawa ang mga pictures ng gourmet food mo diyan.
Hindi ko alam musician ka rin pala. Actually, I was supposed to be a composition major in UP, hindi nga lang pumasa sa talent test, so nag-shift sa Linguistics. Kaya ayun, nandito ako.
LIW
After flagellating themselves, they then dip their wounds in the salty ocean? If that’s not enough, they then get themselves nailed to a cross??? If that’s not hard core, I don’t know what is. What’s the next level after that? Have somebody shoot them with a gun after getting crucified? Hey, to each his own, I suppose.
Tabing-ilog diet sounds good… seafood and vegetables. Can’t go wrong there.
Happy Easter!
The Lenten traditions are truly amazing here in the Philippines. I am trying to record some of them. This year I was able to see the “Kordero” (lamb) traditions in Morong, the smoking & washing of the Santo Entierro in Paete, the flagellants in Kalayaan and the Salubong in Angono.
I do hope you can keep those rich traditions alive in the future.
Daphne, oh no… it wasn’t measly at all… I liked all the things you did during you’re hiatus but we’re really glad you’re back! Happy Easter Daphne!
Ipanema, hehe… agree ka din sa holding hands ng boyfriend-girlfriend sa Ama Namin?
The food looks yummy… but I broke the diet during the Easter party. 
Happy Easter Ipanema!
LIW, I have a Bachelor of Music in Piano and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UST. I don’t know how I finished those when I’m tone deaf… hehehe!
I broke my Diyeta sa Tabing-Ilog the other day… I think I gained a lot of weight again. 
Happy Easter LIW!
Wil, oh, of course not… after all that… they drown themselves in Tuba and San Miguel… hahaha!
Yeah, the Tabing-Ilog Diet is quite healthy… but I broke it with fettuccini and french fries the other day… oh and polvoron too… I am bad!!! 
Happy Easter Wil!
Sidney, in Kamuning where I used to live, I used to practice all the Lenten rituals. It’s also like a province there although it’s in Quezon City with all the processions and stuff. But it’s amazing and I also appreciate how you record all the Filipino traditions Sidney. Of all the rituals you’ve recorded, I’ve only been to the Moriones in Marinduque. Happy Easter Sidney!
At church here, we also hold hands when we sing the Our Father.
You mentioned in a comment in one of my posts that you like burnt food. Now I see.
So does your Honey always make his omelette like that? Or did he do it that way only because he knows you’re posting the picture here.
Joke lang. 
i think people have different thoughts about fasting. but it would be best if one fast for feeling sorry about his transgressions. for me, it doesnt matter if one fast from tasty or simple foods, but the sincerity that accompanies the act. some people do it for show only. eneweiz, i love the yummy looking food especially the fish fillet cooked in tomato sauce and herbs.
Hello Toe! I have a different version of omelette, some are tsamba lang….hehehe. I made a separate blog for my sbd foods pero photo lang, no need for the recipe kasi madali namang gawin lahat, preparations lang ang kailangan at konting arte…hehehe.
Niceheart, even if it’s just the two of us, Honey is always particular with his presentation. Ako naman, I set the table nicely. Wala lang… para masarap ang kain.
Oh, my burnt toast above was inadvertent…hehe! 
Bingskee, yes, people should be sincere in their intentions about fasting. Honey took special care in cooking that fish then we gulped it up in a few minutes.
Ann, I need you. I gave up on my diet. I ate pasta last weekend.
And what’s the point of eating chicken if you can’t eat the skin? 
I think that your new business of preparing sbd foods is a really good idea. If I were there, I would immediately order from you.
Those are just delicious recipes ! Thanks for sharing Toe and I will try them one of these days, alam mo naman ako champion sa Kusina bwahahaha ! I just loved the fish fillet, grabe hmmm yum yum yum!!! That’s indeed abstinence, no meat
! We do hand in hand during mass for the ” Our Father song” co’z we have a Filipino priest here and we celebrate the mass in Tagaolog and English !
Haze, pareho lang tayong champion sa kusina… hehehe!
Oh, how nice to be able to attend a Tagalog mass in France!