The Filipino economic diaspora has spread around Filipinos around the world, with at least 165,000 of them living in Italy. And, despite the marked difference between Italian and Filipino cuisine, their common ingredients pave the way for the reproduction of native food in this foreign land. In the city of Turin, members of the Filipino Chaplaincy gather every Sunday to hear mass celebrated in their native tongue, after which a little market of homemade food is held. The sellers, usually retired or under-employed workers, offer at least 24 types of food for consumption on-site and for taking home. The wide variety includes snacks, desserts, and other recipes that are quite tedious to prepare. Particular regional recipes have also been seen, and these are always linked with the hometown of the seller. The set-up of the market is reminiscent of the periodic bazaars (tiangge) found throughout the Philippines. This place not only serves as a venue for Filipino workers to enjoy the food of the homeland. It also is a way to teach their Italianborn children about their roots. As such, modified Filipino food spaces such as this are important elements of the diasporic experiences of overseas Filipino workers and their families.
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