Hapag ng Bayan: Analyzing the Contributions of Carinderias to the Culinary Heritage of Malabon and Navotas

Abstract

The carinderia is a quintessential Filipino eatery known for its affordability, accessibility, and home-cooked meals. While widely recognized as a site of sustenance, its deeper cultural, historical, and social significance remains underexplored. This study addresses the underexamined duality of carinderias, as both food providers and informal cultural institutions, by employing an Area Studies approach and drawing from frameworks such as Culinary Heritage and Kalutong Bayan. Focusing on Malabon and Navotas, the research analyzes the multifaceted roles of carinderias in urban communities. The study uses three methodological approaches: cultural mapping, semi-structured interviews, and surveys. It examines their spatial distribution and location patterns, food offerings, historical narratives, operation systems, cultural contributions, and public perceptions. The findings reveal that carinderias are shaped by local socio-economic realities where food, identity, and everyday life converge. These establishments provide sustenance and foster social connection, cultural continuity, exude familiarity, and a sense of historical rootedness, which underscores the broader value of carinderia beyond mere commerce. The study calls for greater recognition and support of carinderias, particularly in the realms of policy, heritage promotion, and sustainable livelihood.