Peculiar Meal Leaves Big Smile on Srisaket Sor Rungvisai's Face

Wazzup Pilipinas!

WBC Super Flyweight World Champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai may be the hardest puncher in today’s well-entrenched boxing scene of Thailand, but his angst inside the ring melts when his favorite food becomes the topic.

The often-overused proverb "The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is applicable to Rungvisai because he breaks into a wide smile when he sees his desired meal on his plate.

However, Rungvisai’s choice of comfort food might be too exotic to most because his satisfying set meal consists of grilled Bandicoot rat and fried pigeon, matched with spicy red ant eggs and sticky rice.

“It’s my favorite since I was a kid. It reminds me of my childhood. My parents always prepare these goodies every time they pick me up at the airport from a trip abroad for a fight or after the fight here in Thailand. It’s my victory meal,” he shared.

Grilled Bandicoot rat has become a popular delicacy in many provinces of Thailand, slowly turning into a lucrative industry due to its large demand and the income that it generates.

Meanwhile, red ant eggs are common food for people in Thailand’s northeastern area as it has been utilized as an ingredient in some authentic local dishes.

“Just the thought of my favorite meal makes me crave, but I need to hold myself back in favor of my upcoming bout,” he said in jest.

All of Rungvisai’s gastronomic delights would not be part of his very strict diet plan as he prepares for his third defense of the WBC Super Flyweight World Championship.

Rungvisai is set to make his debut in ONE Championship, a mixed martial arts organization that was established in 2011.

ONE Championship recently announced its partnership with Nakornloung Promotion (NKL) to co-promote the next title defense of Rungvisai.

Rungvisai puts his super flyweight crown on the line against Mexico’s Iran Diaz in the main event of ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES, which takes place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on 6 October.

“I am excited to showcase my skills at home in Bangkok. As a world champion boxer, this is a rare opportunity for me to be able to defend my world title in front of my people. I thank ONE Championship for the honor, and I will do my best to retain my title,” he stated.

Rungvisai assured that food presently takes a backseat as he sets his sights on winning the scheduled 12-round championship clash with Diaz.

“I am very deep in preparations right now for one of the most significant bouts of my career. The possibilities with ONE Championship and NKL are endless. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my career,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. 

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 Presents Six Special Feature Films

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the continuing celebration of Philippine Cinema this August, the Film Development Council of the Philippines proudly presented six (6) award-winning independent films under the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 Special Feature Section during a Press Launch held last August 1, 2018 in Quezon City.

The PPP Special Feature Section opened its doors to outstanding Filipino independent films which gained numerous awards from prestigious award-giving bodies as featured in independent local film festivals. Balanginga: Howling Wilderness directed by Khavn (QCinema 2017), Gusto Kita with all my Hypothalamus directed by Dwein Baltazar (Cine Filipino 2018) , High Tide directed by Tara Illenberger (ToFarm 2017), Kiko Boksingero directed by Thop Nazareno (Cinemalaya 2017), Paki directed by GianCarlo Abrahan (Cinemaone Originials 2017) and Tu Pug Imatuy directed by Arnel Barbarona (Sinag Maynila 2017) are all to be screened in selected cinemas nationwide from August 15-21, 2018 along with the PPP’s main entries.

The Special Feature Section of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 will be screened from August 15-21 in SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Fairview, SM Sta. Mesa, Gateway Cineplex and Robinsons Galleria.

“We are very grateful and proud that PPP gets to screen these six films which are more than worthy to be watched and appreciated by a wider audience,” said FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño during the Press Launch. “This month is certainly an exciting time for Philippine Cinema as all types of Filipino films that we have today will be featured,” she added.

Balanginga: Howling Wilderness (QCinema 2017)Writer: Khavn, Achinette Villamor and Jerry B. Gracio
Director: Khavn
Cast: Justine Samson, Pio Del Rio, Warren Tuaño

1901, Balangiga. Eight-year-old Kulas flees town with his grandfather and their carabao to escape General Smith’s “Kill & Burn” order. He finds an infant amid a sea of corpses and together, the two boys struggle to survive the American occupation.

Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus  (CineFilipino Film Festival 2018)Writer: Dwein Baltazar
Director: Dwein Baltazar
Cast: Iana Bernardez, Nicco Manalo, Dylan Ray Talon, Soliman Cruz, Anthony Falcon

Writer/director Dwein Baltazar takes us to one of Manila's smoky avenues, and sinks us in a compelling observation on desire following four men yearning for one enigmatic woman.

High Tide (ToFarm Film Festival 2017)Writer: Tara Illenberger
Director: Tara Illenberger
Starring: Arthur Solinap, Sunshine Teodoro, Dalin Sarmiento, Forrest Kyle Buscato, Christine Mary Demaisip, Riena Christal Shin

High Tide dives into how climate change, particularly rising sea levels impact the locals of coastal villages. At its core is the story of a young boy that is left an orphan, and as an effect of a massive typhoon, he loses his ability to speak.

Kiko Boksingero (Cinemalaya 2017)Writer: Emmanuel Espejo Jr., Ash Malanum, Denise O’Hara
Director: Thop Nazareno
Starring: Noel Comia Jr., Yayo Aguila, Angel Aquino, Denise Soliva, William Buenavente at JM Canlas

Kikko Boksingero tells story of a child who was under custody of her Nanny Diday (Yayo) while the relatives are leaving on states. Kiko’s mother died while he is unfamiliar with his father. George (Yul Servo) returned, he tried to reestablish relationship with his son Kikko with boxing.

Paki (Cinema One Originals 2017)Writer: Giancarlo Abrahan
Director: Giancarlo Abrahan
Starring: Dexter Doria, Eula Valdez, Ricky Davao, Shamaine Buencamino, Paolo Paraiso, Ina Feleo, Noel Trinidad

Paki is a portrait of the modern Filipino family, and follows a 80-year old woman who decides that she will be an old maid. As the woman tries to leave her husband for sixty years, their children forbid their parents to separate to keep their long-lasting bond alive.

Tu Pug Imatuy (Sinag Maynila 2017)Writer: Arnel Mardoquio
Director: Arnel Barbarona
Starring: Malona Sulatan, Jong Monzon, Luis Georlin Banaag III, Jamee Rivera, Jillian Khayle Barbarona, Henyo Ehem

Tu Pug Imatuy, which means "The right to kill" in Manobo, follows Lumad couple Obunay and Dawin who are uprooted from their traditional way of life after a military encounter. Soon, they find themselves unwilling instruments in the soldiers' anti-guerilla operations. What will it take for them to reunite with their family? Inspired by actual events, the film tackles the Manobos' struggles against environment plunder and the militarization of their communities.

These films will also join the festivities in the following Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino Events - Pista at the Park Grand Fans Day and All-Star Parade, August 11, 2018 at Quezon Memorial Circle from 10AM onwards, FREE ADMISSION and PPP 2018 Opening Night at SM North Edsa on August 13, 2018.

Watch out for the Special Feature Section in the following schools beginning next week:

UPFI Film Studio on August 6, 4PM
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa on August 7, 2PM
Unibersidad de Manila on August 8, 1PM
Asia Pacific Film Institute on August 9, 3PM
Adamson University on August 10, 10AM
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina on August 13, 3PM

MAPUA University on August 14, 10AM

PPP is presented in partnership with National Cinemas Association of the Philippines (NCAP), Unicef, Globe Play It Right, SOLAR Entertainment Corporation, Outpost Visual Frontier, Nestle, ThinkBit, Sequioa Hotel. It is also supported by the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEED), CNN Philippines, PEP.ph, MOR 101.9 For Life, The Manila Bulletin, Malaya, Philippine Star, Wish 107.5, Push.com, Uniquely Pinoy, as well as by the following government agency partners, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), National Youth Commission (NYC), Office of the Vice Mayor Quezon City (OVM) and Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC)

Must Try Iconic Foods From Around The World

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Have you ever dreamt of tasting scrumptious food while sitting in the cafe with a breathtaking view? We know where to find this beauty. This mouth-watering article will help you choose the destination for the next food tour.

What can represent culture better than the local cuisine? The food that people eat shows the historical development, tendencies in products that prevail in the region.

Let’s be honest, all of us love to fill our stomachs, but here we talk not only about wolfing down everything around but tasting the dishes that have more than caloric value, the dishes that became iconic.

Chicken Machboos in Doha, Qatar
Have you ever heard about chicken Machboos? This is said to be an original dish from Qatar. It is cooked in a big pot of rice, tomatoes, onions, and chicken, and laced with a lot of spices. It’s truly delicious!

You can find it in plenty of Arabic restaurants around the city. However, there are two that are particularly good — the magnificent Al Sufra Restaurant and more affordable and classical Damasca One.
Smorrebrod in Copenhagen, Denmark
When you’re in Copenhagen, there’s one thing you should hands-down try — the well-known smørrebrød. It’s a kind of open-faced sandwich with a lot of toppings usually piled so high that you don’t see the bread. In some places about 250 types of smørrebrød are served, but primarily the toppings are layered on the rye bread.

Then where should you try it? Go to Kronborg or Hallernes, or to more stylish places like Kompasset or Selma.

Hot wings in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Hot wings are the icon of Atlanta’s food culture. They’re being sold on every step, and there’s nothing that locals love more. It’s the perfect meal on the go. You can eat it spicy or plain, but you should taste lemon pepper wings, the most popular flavor.

Visit J.R. Crickets, American Deli, and ATL Wings to enjoy the best wings in the city.
Fish kefta tagine in Tangier, Morocco
Eating in Morocco can be an amazing experience for your tongue, this’s a very flavorful country. The city of Tangier, because its geography is filled with the seafood tagines. Fish kefta tagine is prepared from sardines. They’re smashed, formed into meatballs and then slow cooked. The only problem is that you will not find this dish in every restaurant around the city, because it needs a lot of time and patience. Also, people usually cook it at home.

A very nice place where you can immerse yourself into the taste and flavor of this meal is Rif Kebdani, but you can also try to find a friendly house that will share their meal with you.

Xiǎolóngbāo dumplings in Shanghai, China
There’re two forms of cuisines in Shanghai. They’re called Benbang Cuisine and Haipai Cuisine (the local one and the one that developed in the multicultural environment). It’s difficult to distinguish a meal that stands out from the multitude of dishes, but Xiǎolóngbāo dumplings are considered the most iconic food. You cannot visit Shanghai without trying these. People eat them with broth. But unlike ‘soup dumplings,’ they’re served not in a liquid, but while being hot in the bamboo baskets, the same in which they were steamed.

Where can you find Xiǎolóngbāo dumplings? Head to Jia Jia Tang Bao or Din Tai Fung to feel the authentic taste of the dish.

Samoosas in Johannesburg, South Africa
Samoosas is a smaller South African variant of the samosas from India (those are fried triangles of pastry filled with mince or vegetables). Over the years, the recipe embraced the preferences of the residents of this region and created its unusual combinations of ingredients and spices. There’s a great variety of fillings. Basically, anything can go into samosas. Also, they can be salty or sweet.

Taste the best samosas in World of Samoosas where you will find more than ten different recipes of them.

Feijoada in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feijoada is a stew of black beans with meat. Brazilians cook it with a number of salted pork or beef products and two or more kinds of smoked sausage and jerked beef.

It’s traditionally served at the weekend, and people enjoy it throughout the day and don’t eat in a rush. Usually, the whole big family gathers to share a pot of feijoada during some event.

Visit Bar do Momo on Friday or Saturday lunchtimes to taste the best feijoada in town!


Bio
My name is Alexia Wolker, I am a blogger and work as an editor. I have a Master's Degree in literature and love both reading and writing about books and literary topics. I also help students with their literary assignments - articles, essays and summmaries of books, my works you can see at thepoetrytrust website