THERE is a controvery in social media because one movie director commented that the Netflix documentary showing street food in Cebu City “borders on proverty porn.”

The documentary features Cebu’s “bakasi” dish, an eel stew that is sold in some streetside carenderia. I think Erik Matti’s sentiment is brought about by a Manila-centric misconception of what should be representational as Filipino.

The fact that “bakasi” is being patronized by the Cebuanos makes the dish part of our being Filipino, and therefore representative of culture. (By Benny Patrimonio, Basak, Cebu City)