PHOTO: Kwek kwek from angsarap.net
How far can you go on PhP20? As you might suspect, not very far. If you live or study in the University of the Philippines campus, however, there’s still some chance of a thrifty breakfast, or a fairly filling lunch or dinner. Our beloved Philippine Collegian breaks down what to get and where to get it:
BREAKFAST: Skip the fancy coffee places around the area and make for Ripada and Area 2, where vending machines that dispense PhP5 cups of coffee abound. A pack of biscuits at PhP7, or a couple of cigarettes (PhP5 each) and you’re good to go. Yes, we know cigarettes aren’t breakfast food. Or are they?
LUNCH: Head to the academic oval, where kiosks are ready to dish out instant pancit canton for PhP15 a pack. And for a little extra, you can choose from an array of add-ons such as siomai, fish balls and kwek-kwek. Don’t know what kwek-kwek is? Clearly you’ve never had to survive on just PhP20.
DINNER: The community of Krus na Ligas teems with sellers of goto, mami and the rather unequivocally-named bentelog: for PhP20, it’s a full meal with rice, a fried egg and your choice of hotdog, meat loaf, sausage and other fried items.
You used to be able to get by on PhP20 a day, but sadly, those days are long gone. It’s 2013, and you’re lucky to get by on PhP20 a meal.
