solsticeuniversity.com – In the bustling slums of Metro Manila, where the air hums with resilience and desperation, pagpag emerges as both a lifeline and a stark symbol of inequality. This Tagalog term, meaning “to shake off dust,” refers to leftover food—often from fast-food chains like Jollibee or KFC—scavenged from garbage dumps, cleaned, and re-cooked for consumption. Born from the crucible of extreme poverty, pagpag is more than a meal; it’s a testament to human endurance in a nation where hunger gnaws at millions.
The process is meticulous yet grim. Scavengers, often from Tondo’s poorest corners, sift through refuse, retrieving chicken bones, half-eaten burgers, or expired meat. At home or in makeshift stalls, they wash away filth, frying or stewing the scraps into dishes like pagpag adobo or batchoy. A serving costs as little as 10 pesos (about $0.20), feeding families who can’t afford more. Yet, this ingenuity carries risks—salmonella, hepatitis, and toxins lurk in the refuse, a silent threat the National Anti-Poverty Commission warns against.
Despite government efforts like cash transfers, pagpag persists, a haunting echo of a 2008 food crisis that never fully faded. It’s a dish of defiance, survival, and a call for change.
