Kahit saang bahagi man ng mundo ka mapadpad, wala pa rin talagang katulad ang Paskong Pinoy.
Para kay Panlasang Pinoy creator Vanjo Merano na naninirahan sa U.S. simula 2002, hindi kumpleto ang Pasko kung wala ang mga flavors na kinalakihan niya. “Ang daming Christmas memories from when I was younger—yung excitement of decorating the house, seeing family members again, and most of all, the food,” he shares. Spaghetti, barbecue, lumpia, menudo—hindi lang basta ulam ang mga ito. Think of it as a time machine na nagbabalik ng mga matatamis na alaala from the good old days. Bawat subo, may kaakibat na kwento.
Kung OFW ka na malayo sa pamilya sa panahon na ito, alam mong ibang klaseng effort ang kailangan ilaan sa Noche Buena. Hindi lang ito basta pagluluto ng special dishes. Isa rin itong coping mechanism para malabanan ang lungkot na nararamdaman dahil hindi mo kasama ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. Sa pamamagitan ng mga recipes from home, para mo na rin silang kapiling.
Adapting Recipes, Preserving Memories
Ano bang biggest challenge abroad? Isa diyan ang pag-source ng ingredients. Hindi lahat ng sangkap ay madali hanapin. Pero gaya ng maraming Pinoy, natuto si Vanjo na mag-adjust. “We substitute ingredients. Like instead of red hotdogs, I use mild Italian sausage for spaghetti. I make do. Kasi more than the accuracy, it’s the memory and essence of the dish that matters.”
That’s why products like MAGGI® Magic Sarap and MAGGI® Oyster Sauce are life-savers in Filipino homes abroad. Kahit wala kang access sa wet market or fresh calamansi, those iconic Pinoy flavors can still shine through. Vanjo himself uses MAGGI® Chicken Cubes in spaghetti for that deeper, meatier taste—and his followers swear by it.
Holiday Staples, The Panlasang Pinoy Way
Bawat Pilipino ay may “must-serve” dish tuwing Pasko. Para kay Vanjo, ito ang mga go-to niya :
Lumpiang Shanghai – crispy, golden, and always the first to disappear from the table.
Menudo – comforting and familiar, with tomato-based sauce that warms you up.
Pinoy Spaghetti – sweet, meaty, and nostalgia-packed. Perfect with grated cheese on top.
Pancit Canton – great for feeding a crowd, and even better with added veggies and shrimp.
Crispy Lechon – the ultimate centerpiece. Kahit ilang ulam pa ‘yan, iba pa rin ang hatak ng crispy balat at tender na laman ng lechon.
Each dish tells a story. Ano mang diskarte o bali ang gawin mo dahil sa budget, availability, or personal preference, para itong mainit na yakap mula sa Pinas.
Para sa Lahat ng Malayo sa Pamilya
Christmas is just different when you’re away from your loved ones. Pero kahit malayo ka, you can still bring them closer through familiar flavors. “You don’t need to be a professional chef. You just need the heart and the intention,” says Vanjo.
Whether you’re in The U.S.,Dubai, Canada, or kahit sa probinsya, set the table, call your loved ones via video call, and share a meal, even virtually. Magluto ka ng alam mong patok sa lahat. Magluto ka ng mula sa puso. Magluto ka gaya ng ginagawa natin sa Pilipinas—malayo man sa isa’t-isa, malapit na rin dahil magkakasama.
Sa tulong ng MAGGI® as your kusina partner, you’re never really far from home.
