The Philippines’ current inflation crisis is no laughing matter but sometimes, humor is the only thing people can turn to cope with hardship. Just take a look at these silly memes that have been making their rounds online this week.
Or should we say sili memes?
Filipinos are alarmed by the price hike of siling labuyo (bird’s eye chili), which were only around PHP150 (US$2.78) per kilo in February but reached a peak price of PHP1,000 (US$18.52) in local wet markets last month.
Netizens just had to point out how ridiculous the chili prices were, leading to the viral sili memes.
Facebook user Axhel Matillano Tubtub shared a meme using the beloved Jollibee Chickenjoy.
The original is seen priced at PHP139 (US$2.57) while the spicy variety costs PHP1,139 (US$21.10).
Of course, that isn’t true. Not yet, at least.
Facebook user Gem Aquino shared a photo of a bag of chilis on Tuesday and said in Filipino: “We don’t have a car, and it’s not like I’m bragging but…”
Crazy rich Asians are real.
Mark Paulo Cruz tried exchanging 15 kilos of the expensive chilis for an iPhone 6 Plus.
That’s a bit of a stretch, but who knows, right?
Facebook user Kerby Angelo Drahcir Solmerano shared his own take on the meme yesterday, Plants vs. Zombies style:
“I suddenly don’t want to play Plants vs. Zombies anymore,” Solmerano said in Filipino.
Senator Kiko Pangilinan also joined in the fun earlier today and did a bit of wordplay on Twitter: “Aylabuyo (I love you)!”
Aylabuyo!
Uwian na, may nanalo na! pic.twitter.com/DMs2XDvQnP
— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) September 14, 2018
A Twitter user with the handle @HHFlashbacks shared a scenario:
“Friend 1: What’s your food?
Friend 2: Spicy adobo.
Friend 1: Yes, rich! You’ve got chili!”
Friend 1: Anong baon mo?
Friend 2: Spicy adobo.
Friend 1: Yes namaaaan, yaman! May sili!
— HHFB on vacation (@HHFlashbacks) September 9, 2018
Twitter user @BadtripKaDre posted a photo of a wallet with chilis inside, saying it’s the new basis for finding out if you’re rich or not.
OH TANGNA SILI NA ANG BATAYAN NGAYON KUNG MAYAMAN KA O HINDE! pic.twitter.com/DvomBPzRuV
— BADTRIP (@BadtripKaDre) September 12, 2018
Speaking of paying for stuff, Facebook user Heneral Luna memes also created one from a still frame from the new film Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral: “My college tuition is so expensive. Do they accept chili peppers?”
How do you know if you’re rich? Swim in a body of water filled with chili peppers, of course, as shown by Facebook page San Jose City Stolen Shots:
This is just plain sili.
WHY IS EVERYONE MAKING MEMES OUT OF INFLATION RATE? IT’S SO SILI. 🙄🙄🙄
— Nico (@jnxpg) September 13, 2018
The rising prices of bird’s eye chilies prompted Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to even give advice last week, saying that Filipinos can plant their own chilies in their garden and not rely so much on local markets.
Last week, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the country experienced a 6.4 percent inflation last month, the highest rate in nine years. In July, inflation was at 5.7 percent, while in August 2017, it was only at 2.6 percent.
