Rice: The heartbeat of Filipino life and culture

“LIFE is better with a bowl of rice.”

Rice. . .It’s crucial for any other meals like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes even for snacks. Even fast food chains like Mang Inasal serve hot unlimited rice along with their Mang Inasal chicken with Chicken oil and sinigang soup. The existence of unli-rice fast-food chains such as Mang Inasal, and free extra rice promos in some diners also prove how rice defines the Filipino meal.

Rice is essential among the Filipino people and in other parts of Asia. According to the National Nutrition Council (The Importance of Rice to Filipinos’ Lives), “Rice is the staple food for about 80 percent of Filipinos and is therefore a major item in the consumption basket of consumers. It is the single most important agricultural crop in the Philippines and is therefore a major source of income for millions of Filipino farmers.”

Rice is our most important cultivated plant, feeding more Filipino people than any other crop because It provides half of the calorie requirements and is a rich source of carbohydrates and other nutrients such as protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and more.

A perspective of how Filipinos see rice in life is like looking at a Philippine society on a plate.

This afternoon, I heard a phone ringing from the pocket of a sikad driver named Manong Ray. He answered the phone with the speakers on, and the kids and I heard a conversation between him and his wife. His wife asked him to buy at least five kilograms of rice before going home. According to him, the lack of rice means gutom or hunger. He makes sure to buy kilos of grain rice and brings home to feed his family of five for at least three to four days.

“Dili pwede walay bugas, bahala walay sud. a basta naa nay bugas sa balay, okay na mi ana,” he said.

He had to hustle up to bring us to our destination before going to the store to buy grains of rice. Just like Manong Ray’s situation, we live in a country where almost half of the society views themselves as poor, rice is the choice for a meal because it’s a tummy filler and a high-carb food even when money is limited, keeping our stomachs full.

“Rice remains crucial for commonality in Philippine households. Among the poorest, rice will suffice to constitute a meal,” according to the study: “Rice in the Filipino Diet and Culture” by Filomeno Aguilar Jr. and published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

“Rice therefore stands for the ‘we’ even in the poorest of families,” the study reads in part.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has identified rice as a major risk in the consumer price index, which measures inflation. Rice inflation accelerated to 22.6 percent in January from 19.6 percent in December 2023, PSA data showed.

PSA head Dennis Mapa said that inflation could have been lower were it not for the double-digit increase in rice prices compared to last year, given its weight in the consumer base.

A kilogram of well-milled rice had an average retail price of P56.21 during the first phase of February 2024 (01 to 05 February 2024), higher than its average retail prices in the second phase of January 2024 (15 to 17 January 2024) at P 55.42 per kilogram and in the first phase of January 2024 (01 to 05 January 2024) at P55.48 per kilogram. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

Considering various aspects can lead to elevated prices of food, including rice, and goods in the Philippines compared to our neighboring countries. Factors include:

First, Transportation and logistics costs: Moving goods between islands or to remote areas may affect higher costs for shipping, fuel, and infrastructure development which can make it more challenging and expensive.

Second, Import costs and tariffs: Importing goods involves costs such as shipping, customs duties, and taxes, which can add to the overall price. Tariffs and trade regulations can also impact the cost of imported goods.

Third, Supply and demand dynamics: If demand for specific goods outstrips supply, prices may rise.

Fourth, Market competition and concentration: If there is limited competition or a high level of market concentration, it can result in higher prices.

Fifth, Production and operational costs: Factors such as labor costs, energy prices, and regulatory compliance can affect the overall cost of production and operations.

And lastly, Exchange rates and currency fluctuations: If the local currency weakens against major trading currencies, it can increase the cost of imported goods and contribute to higher prices.

Even though the inflation rate of necessities, such as food, has risen, Filipino consumers still buy them. Rice is a staple in Filipino culture and plays a main role in traditional meals. It is often considered the heart of Filipino cuisine and is a key element in various celebrations and rituals.

For Filipinos, rice is life. Rice is home.