Pungko-pungko: Street food trippin' in Cebu City
Published Jul 22, 2018 07:41 pm
By MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – Other than its eclectic beauty, the Queen City of the South is also famed for its delectable, appetizing street food.
Yes, street food that we call “Pungko-pungko” which literally means to squat, but to me, it actually means “sit, eat and go.”
I scoured the city for these “Pungko-pungko” stalls and / or vending areas in sidewalks, busy corners, near churches and the university belt in Cebu City.
What is ‘Pungko-pungko’?
They are usually small tables with about 4-5 wooden or plastic chairs set-up on sidewalks and on side-streets near schools, churches and universities or in areas where there are construction projects going on.
Take your pick
On the table are plastic containers full of deep-fried pork chops, hotdogs, chorizos, sausages, chicken and all its parts including heads, innards, feet.
There are also fried fish, “bulad” or fried dried fish, tempura, Ngohiong, ginabot, lumpia.
Within their territorial area are buckets and coolers with bottled water and softdrinks, “sparkle” being very popular among the sweet cola drinks here.
Budget meals
Beside the Manila Bulletin building and beside the University of the Visayas (UV) at corner Jakosalem and Colon streets are four “Pungko-pungko” stalls/tables owned by the family and relatives of Evangeline Surig, 75.
Nanay Evangeline said she was only in her 30s when she and her husband started their “Pungko-pungko” enterprise on Colon Street.
According to Manuel and Tita Inilog, who are in their 50s and have been vending here for almost 25 years, most of their patrons are students and employees.
“I get three pieces of lumpia for P9, three pieces of puso for P9, one piece of fried chicken for P15 and a bottle of Sparkle at P15. For about P50, I can already have a full meal/lunch or brunch or supper,” said Ruel Singa, a UV student and native of Maasin, Southern Leyte.
Yes, street food that we call “Pungko-pungko” which literally means to squat, but to me, it actually means “sit, eat and go.”
I scoured the city for these “Pungko-pungko” stalls and / or vending areas in sidewalks, busy corners, near churches and the university belt in Cebu City.
What is ‘Pungko-pungko’?
They are usually small tables with about 4-5 wooden or plastic chairs set-up on sidewalks and on side-streets near schools, churches and universities or in areas where there are construction projects going on.
Take your pick
On the table are plastic containers full of deep-fried pork chops, hotdogs, chorizos, sausages, chicken and all its parts including heads, innards, feet.
There are also fried fish, “bulad” or fried dried fish, tempura, Ngohiong, ginabot, lumpia.
Within their territorial area are buckets and coolers with bottled water and softdrinks, “sparkle” being very popular among the sweet cola drinks here.
Budget meals
Beside the Manila Bulletin building and beside the University of the Visayas (UV) at corner Jakosalem and Colon streets are four “Pungko-pungko” stalls/tables owned by the family and relatives of Evangeline Surig, 75.
Nanay Evangeline said she was only in her 30s when she and her husband started their “Pungko-pungko” enterprise on Colon Street.
According to Manuel and Tita Inilog, who are in their 50s and have been vending here for almost 25 years, most of their patrons are students and employees.
“I get three pieces of lumpia for P9, three pieces of puso for P9, one piece of fried chicken for P15 and a bottle of Sparkle at P15. For about P50, I can already have a full meal/lunch or brunch or supper,” said Ruel Singa, a UV student and native of Maasin, Southern Leyte.