Doing your grocery shopping at a public market or palengke may seem like a no-brainer. Just head there, get the stuff you want and pay, then get out of there. But after several trips to different palengkes, I realized palengkes have unspoken codes or rules. So, I thought of sharing my observations with you in case you visit the Philippines. Or if you’re quite the palengke expert, you’re more than welcome to share tips as well.
Before I start, I would like to clarify that palengkes are different from farmers’ markets. Of course, there is the obvious. Farmers sell their products directly to people at farmers’ markets. But they have other differences as well. Palengkes are usually open seven days a week. Meanwhile, farmers’ markets are open only once a week, and most likely on a weekend. You will need a bigger budget when heading to the farmers’ market because they are usually more expensive than palengkes. Safety-wise, unlike farmers’ markets, palengkes can be a sketchy environment, especially for tourists. So it might be best if you don’t let the crowd know you can only speak English or another language that’s not Filipino. And it’s not wise to display flashy jewelry, cellphones, or your wallet. But if you keep it low key yet vigilant, palengkes are fairly safe.
Here are my observations when going to a palengke:
First, everyone seems to expect that you should go there early. Even if I’m not vying for the freshest meat and even if public markets do get afternoon shipments of fresh vegetables, people still expect me to go to the palengke early in the morning. Going at 10 am can make me look lazy. Heck, one time, I headed there around 11 am and my regular vendor said, “Oh you got here late. Sleeping in must feel good” (for the record, I was up since 7:30 am that day!). So to this, I replied, “what time do you close?”. He answered, “7 pm”. Palengkes usually open for business at 5 am and closes at 7 pm. Still, people expect that you should head there between 6-9 am when it’s the busiest.
Aside from getting first dibs on the best products, it’s a typical scenario to see homemakers shop early to prepare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for their dependents. So when they see me shopping at 11 am, they must assume that I won’t have enough time to cook lunch for my family. Fair enough. But it’s great to shop early anyway. You will feel incredible energy in the air from being one in the crowd. It’s a great way to start your day.
Get in and get out. There’s no meandering, no slow walks. You get there early then you leave after buying everything on your list. I may be in the minority because I’m like a kid in a candy store when I visit the palengke. But for everyone else, it’s an errand. The vendors will quickly help me so I can finish right away. Although I would notice some sort of rush, sometimes I intentionally take my time. For one, it’s wise to make sure you get the correct change. Second, I find the best, unique ingredients when I explore the market. I can’t blame the vendors’ urgency though, they’re usually very busy and wanted to be as efficient as possible.
You will notice people do stop every once in a while to gossip. After all, palengkes have become a community hub. They’re a common place for friends to catch up. If you would like to hear the latest about so and so and their drama, just head to your nearest neighborhood palengke. Otherwise, it’s time to head back home to cook what you bought.
Don’t take pictures unless discreetly and respectfully. Nothing says “I’m not from here” than a big camera hanging around your neck. I am guilty AF with taking photos. But I usually use my phone instead of a big camera which might get stolen. If my picture will have people in it, I politely ask for permission. Otherwise, I would make sure they’re not as recognizable and their faces are not in full blast. Sure, people here are now aware of vloggers walking around with their cameras. Still, you want to err on the safe side, especially if you’re going by yourself. If you are going with someone, kindly ask the person to be on the lookout for you.
With these three tips, I encourage you to explore your nearest palengke. It’s a great resource for vegan Filipino cooking. People would often ask me where do I get my vegan ingredients in the Philippines. They assume I must have a difficult time and must drive far to buy vegan staples. But in reality, I don’t have to brave Manila traffic to seek vegan products. They’re readily available at neighborhood palengkes. Any Filipino from all walks of life, with any kind of budget, can live a vegan lifestyle by shopping at palengkes.
Some think that going vegan is for rich people only, pangmayaman. But the truth is, we have so many native superfoods that are affordable as well. In fact, they’re almost dirt-cheap. My relatives would joke that they’re so cheap, you can actually just ask for them instead of paying. Hinihingi lang yan. Ingredients like turmeric and malunggay are expensive in the states but are very affordable at palengkes here.
To learn more about these vegan products, I’ve created a video listing the recipes with palengke ingredients. To my pleasant surprise, the video has the fastest growing viewership. As it turns out, Filipinos here are curious and interested in living a vegan lifestyle, if only they know where to start. Originally, the video is for a collaboration with an expo called Mafbex. But you can use it as a resource anytime especially if you live in the Philippines.