MAHARLINA GOROSPE-LOCKIE | 'Ginisang Corned Beef at Ampalaya (Sauteed corned beef and bitter melon') | Acrylic on canvas

"Sauteed red onion, garlic, tomato, tinned corned beef, bitter melon, and a beaten egg.

Filipinos enjoy our food in even the most modest of settings, especially when shared with others. We take it as a compliment when a guest’s plate ends up empty; even more so when they go for a second helping (and a third, for takeaway). As a Filipino based overseas, my country’s food provides comfort and assurance in times of homesickness. I relish visits to Manila to share the tastes of home with family and friends but find myself troubled by the economic and environmental precarity of so many of my fellow Filipinos.” - Maharlina Gorospe-Lockie