The Culture
The Philippines is a blend of different cultures. One of the biggest influence is the Spanish culture during its colonization for 300 years. Other countries were involved too, like America and Japan. Other settlers like China and Malays also gave way to a more colorful cutlure. This historic influences made differences to the filipino cuisines. The spaniard made the biggest mark in the Filipino cuisnes. The use of garlic, onions, potato and tomato sauce is one of the main ingredients filipinos used now in daily dishes. 
Mainly garlic and onions are used to flavor the dish. Usually sauteed first in most recipes and other ingredients are added. Tomato sauce is used in most stews such as afritada and caldereta. One dish though called the same but different ingredients is menudo. Now one of the popular dish in Mexico, its basic ingredient is tripe, chick peas and tomato sauce and in the Philippines its menudo version mainly use potatoes, tomato sauce and diced pork. But almost the same process of cooking. Making way to the filipino culture after the Spanish era are the chinese, japanese and malay cultures. Soy sauce, rice paper and noodles is now part of the filipino dishes thanks to Japan and China. Inroducing soy sauce, noodles and rice paper gave life to our famous pansit and lumpia.
With the help of kalakaran or the act of trading goods this simple ingredients has been a good addition to our colorful cuisine.
The Malays made its way as well. Their cuisne has a very strong aroma and flavor. The use of ginger and other spices like saffron, curry and chilies.
After World War 2 the americans introduced canned food and fruit cocktail and became popular. The filipinos added their own grown fruits like coconut, jackfruit and palm nuts.
