And we continue to build...
BOODLE FIGHT
Traditionally, we Filipinos used our hands to eat—kamayan (by hand) was the norm. We had wooden serving and cooking implements but these were not used for individual eating. We were not wont to use spoons and forks even during the Spanish occupation. The Spaniards tolerated our use of our hands to put food in our mouths, though we learned to call eating implements (cubiertos) in Spanish e.g. cuchara (kutsara), cuchillo (kutsilyo), tiyenidor (tiyenidor), etc. Instead of using plates, we ate on banana leaves. During the American colonial period, dining etiquette changed.
The Philippine Military Academy where the Philippine Military would feed its army and its commanding officers eating a Boodle fight together as a symbol of camaraderie, brotherhood and equality. A senior officer or enlisted personnel then utters the traditional command for the boodle fight to begin: "Ready on the left, Ready on the right,
Commence boodle fight!"
Boodle Fight originated and was named after the Filipino"army style" of eating. After a long day of marching, soldiers would eat off banana leaves in the native tradition since they could not carry plates and utensils with them easily.
Today, this has become a kind of feast that is meant for sharing all the food. The food is served and spread on some banana leaves on a long table. The fun part being the use of hands.