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Vegan in the Philippines: how plant-based diet is spreading in a country that loves its meat dishes
- Veganism is on the rise thanks to a growing awareness of the health benefits of a plant-based diet and the ease of sharing information on social media
- Plenty of traditional dishes and snacks in the Philippines are vegan to start with, and others can be adapted. In Manila, vegan grocers help popularise the diet
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When Philippine yoga teacher Nancy Siy founded the Manila Vegans Facebook group in 2014, only 70 people were interested enough to join.
Now the group boasts more than 36,000 members – and it’s a reflection of the growing popularity of the vegan movement in a nation that loves its meat dishes.
Siy, 40, says that although not all the group’s members stick to a strictly plant-based diet, they have a comprehensive understanding of the rationale for living a vegan life.
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“Ten years ago, when I first became vegan, it was largely unknown,” Siy says. “Fast-forward to now, veganism has gained popularity. Because of social media, information has become more democratic; things become more shareable, including truths about factory farms, slaughterhouses, climate change and health.”
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Strict vegans refuse to eat all meat and animal products – including dairy foods, fish, shellfish, eggs and honey – and avoid animal-derived products and services, including animal entertainment, products made from fur or leather, and anything tested on animals.
Siy says there are now a number of dedicated vegan restaurants in Metro Manila’s Makati City district, such as Greenery Kitchen, Cosmic and Green Bar. A global app called Happycow lists 58 vegan dining options in the Philippine capital region.
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