The Chabacano Ulam

Synchronicities of Synchronicity!

I'm seeing some discussions online sprout up about the usage of the word viand as the english translation of 'ulam'.

Incidentally or coincidentally, I had some mini cards with Chabacano phrases printed for Día del Libro and one of the phrases I had was 'cosa el ulam'.

Interestingly, there was a Zamboangueño (he was old but I couldn't tell if he was in his 60s or 70s) at the fair who commented that his grandmother used the word vianda. I was surprised because I always thought that vianda was one of those pretentious Chabacano words that they come up with to sound more Spanish.

So I finally got confirmation that it is indeed a word that used to be in vogue. Anyway, it sounds like the word did not get mainstream adoption and eventually was replaced by ulam.

I always thought that insisting on an English translation for the word ulam was foolish because the concept of 'ulam' is not Western in the first place. Westerners do not have ulam because they do not eat like us!

Today, a lot of distinctly Filipino products are starting to make a name abroad. Hopefully, they learn to start cultivating these products as Filipino and stop translating their names like using 'Calamondin' or 'Philippine Lemon' instead of 'Calamansi'.

Hopefully, they don't botch this opportunity up with the recent Ube craze.