Date of Publication
12-2025
Document Type
Bachelor's Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Subject Categories
Sociology
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department/Unit
Behavioral Sciences
Thesis Advisor
Bubbles Beverly N. Asor
Defense Panel Chair
Alicia B. Manlangit
Defense Panel Member
Marlon de Luna Era
Abstract (English)
Given that food practices are integral to cultural adaptation especially in migration, this study utilizes commensality or the practice of eating together as a social tool to examine how migrants construct their (trans)national identity and sense of belonging. This qualitative descriptive study examined how Filipino immigrant families in Melbourne, Australia utilize the three dimensions of commensality (Neuman, 2024)– food sharing, meal sharing, and feasting, as a socialization tool in building their (trans)national identity. Based on data collected from focus group discussions with five immigrant families and participant observation of family meals and food preparation done in Filipino immigrant households in Melbourne, Australia, this study reveals that shared family meals, especially dinners, are not only non-negotiable family practice that enforces familial norms and rules but it also serves as a platform and pathway in the maintenance of Filipino identity and sense of belonging through consistent and habitual processes of preparation and consumption of Filipino food. The commensal practices– food sharing, meal sharing and feasting– are demonstrated and enacted by the Filipino immigrant families to maintain and preserve Filipino identity but are contingent on their social location in Australia in terms of socioeconomic status, legal and migrant status, occupation, family composition and other sociodemographic factors such as the age and gender of family members. This study also reveals that foodways and commensal practices are reproduction of Filipino-ness rather than facilitation of integration and incorporation of migrants into Australian society.
Keywords: commensality, Filipino migrants, transnational identity, integration, cultural heritage
Abstract Format
html
Abstract (Filipino)
Ang mga gawi sa pagkain ay mahalaga sa pakikibagay sa kultura lalo na sa mundo ng migrasyon, ginagamit ng pag-aaral na ito ang commensality o ang pagkakain nang magkakasama bilang isang panlipunang kasangkapan upang suriin kung paano binubuo ng mga migrante ang kanilang (trans)nasyonal na pagkakakilanlan at pakiramdam ng pagiging kabilang. Sinuri ito sa pamamagitan ng kwalitatibo at deskriptibong pag-aaral kung paano ginagamit nga mga Pilipinong inmigrante ang tatlong (3) dimensyon ng commensality (Neuman, 2024)– pagbabahagi ng pagkain, pagsasalo-salo, at pagdiriwang, bilang kasangkapan ng sosyalisasyon sa pagbuo ng kanilang (trans)nasyonal na identidad. Batay sa mga datos na nakolekta mula sa mga focus group discussion (FGD) at pagmamasid ng pagkain at paghahanda ng pagkain ng limang (5) pamilyang Pilipinong imigrante sa Melbourne, Australia. Ibinunyag ng pag-aaaral na ito na ang pagsasama sama ng pagkain, lalo na ang mga hapunan, ay hindi lamang non-negotiable family practice na nagpapatupad ng mga alituntunin ng pamilya, ngunit ito rin ay nagsisilbing plataporma at landas sa pagpapanatili ng pagkakakilanlan at pakiramdam ng pagiging Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pare-pareho at nakagawiang proseso ng paghahanda at pagkonsumo ng pagkaing Pilipino. Ang mga commensal practices–pagbabahagi ng pagkain, pagsasalo-salo, at pagdiriwang– ay ipinakita at ipinatupad ng mga immigrante upang mapanatili ang pagkakakilanlang Pilipino ngunit nakasalalay din sa kanilang estado o lokasyon sa lipunan katulad ng mga socioeconomic status, legal at migrant status, trabaho, komposisyon ng pamilya, at iba apang sociodemographic factors tulad ng edad at kasarian. Ang pag-aaral na ito ay nagpapakita rin na ang foodways at commensal practices ay nakatuon sa pagbuo ng pagka-Pilipino sa ibayong dagat at hindi sa pagpapadali ng integrasyon ng mga immigrante sa lipunan ng Australia.
Mga susing salita: salo-salo, migranteng Pilipino, transnasyonal na pagkakakilanlan, integrasyon, pamanang kultural
Abstract Format
html
Language
English
Format
Electronic
Keywords
Immigrants--Australia--Melbourne; Immigrant families--Philippines; Filipino diaspora; Food habits; Cultural property
Recommended Citation
Flores, X. V., Baldivia, P. H., & Oblea, E. T. (2025). Salo-salo: Commensality and the practice of eating together among Filipino diasporic families in Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_behsc/21
Upload Full Text
wf_yes
Embargo Period
12-6-2027
