Out of the blue, I remember hot, humid, summer nights. I could be watching TV, reading a book, studying, doing nothing, when suddenly a faint voice calls out:
“Baluuuut! Penoyyyyyy!
Baluuuut! Penoyyyyyy!”
And slowly but surely like a drum beat, it gets louder and louder…
“Baluuuut! Penoyyyy!”
Just those 2 words on repeat. A soloist playing to the night. And to the neighborhood.
Like the most enthusiastic of audiences, all of us lucky enough to hear will jump to our feet, and greet this wonderful music by scrambling around the house to look for cash. We then hurriedly open our doors (because our soloist does not wait for anyone) and call out:
“Kuya, pabili!” (Big brother / sir, I want to buy!)
A duet is created.
One call is often enough but sometimes, when our soloist is lost in his own music, his own world, you may have to raise your voice louder and repeat.
If you’re curious what balut or penoy is… they are a kind of boiled eggs — often enjoyed with alcohol by adults and are thought to be aphrodisiacs, hence a night snack. It’s also considered “healthy” food for kids if eaten in moderation.
This may all be made up stuff, the simple answer is: Tradition. It’s always been this way and we’re happy enough that it is.
Yes, a man, a mister, would often walk around neighborhoods at night selling eggs. Carrying a mid-size basket where the balut and penoy are stored, he walks through residential streets imploring us to buy.
I’ve never realized it before but… God, how I miss* my nameless kuya whose small, lone business is not only a joy of my growing up years but a hallmark of my culture.
The only person who beats him in value (for me anyway because I love a good breakfast) is someone just like him. The yang to this yin. It’s another mister who works in the early to mid mornings — he walks around residential streets between 7 – 10 AM and calls out:
“Tahoooooo”
“Puuutooo, Kutsintaaaaa”
Now I’m just giddy with excitement remembering.
Truth be told, it’s rarer for me to hear Kuya Breakfast calling out, so when our paths cross, it’s much, much sweeter music to my ears (and tummy).
Taho is made up of soy aka tofu, the texture is like if a smoothie and a custard had a baby — actually we already have it in most supermarkets in the US, it’s called “silken tofu” but imagine it fresh and if you’re really lucky, still piping hot. And then Kuya will add some sago pearls (similar to tapioca bubbles but much smaller in size) and drizzle a brown sugar syrup on top! Yum!
Puto and kutsinta are steamed rice cakes — in reputation they probably most equal a muffin, a breakfast/ all-day type of cake. In flavor they are usually not as sweet and are much smaller in size.
Our daytime kuya often carries a heavier load — he has 2 big aluminum containers he balances on his shoulder for the taho/silken tofu. Sometimes he also sells the rice cakes with the taho, other times it’s a different kuya that does.
He may not know, I’ve never told him, but he’s the bearer of the rarest of gifts in the morning: good news.
The simple joy of eating a freshly-made rice cake, at a price affordable enough that you can do it regularly— delivered right to your doorstep — without having to go ask for it (or go to an app to order)?
It is the sweetest luxury.
That is the good news. That this kind of goodness… as simple as it is, it exists. Out there.
Someone who’s walking and working hard to earn a living is planting seeds of service and joy in his community with every step he takes (most probably without even realizing he is doing so).
Of course, I am singing their praises in hindsight. I might remember these kuyas by face but sadly not by name… When I used to see them, it’s a quick and easy transaction. Hi and goodbye in a span of less than 5 minutes.
It is easy to take for granted the things you see and experience everyday. It is easy to overlook the simple pleasures, the regular folks that make life… sweet.
So if you see Kuya anytime soon, pakisabi nalang na mahal ko siya 😂
June 12 is Philippine Independence Day. 🇵🇭
Today, I really, really want to give a big shout out to our kuyas (at ates kung meron na din!) — sa Magtataho, sa Magbabalot — simply put, the Philippines won’t be the same without you.
Maraming salamat po🫡 ♥️🙏
A June 12 Shoutout
