reaming Outcomes tthe end of this lesson, you should be able to: 1. agree on a working definition of globalization for the course, 2. differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization; and 3, narrate a personal experience of globalization. AStory: Gio, Latif, and the Laksa When Gio was a second-year international affairs student in a university in Cebu City, he obtained funding to join the school team participating in an international Model UN competition | in Sydney, Australia. At the height of the competition, Gio made plenty of new friends and became particularly close to Latif from the Malaysian team. The two first started talking when Latif asked | Gio where he was from. Upon discovering that the Gio was from | the Philippines, Latif lit up and declared that he was a big fan 0! Filipino actors Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Gio "35 pleasantly surprised to learn that Latif had seen every episode the ABS-CBN telenovela Pangako sa ‘Yo (‘The Promise’). The show" had aired on Malaysian TV a few years back, and its two stats had developed a modest following | Ashamed that he did not know as much about Malay2| Latif knew about the Philippines, Gio asked Latif what his Count | was like. Latif, he discovered, was from a Muslim university in 622 Lumpur, Gio asked him what he liked best about living in KL! and Latif immediately mentioned the food. Latif explained that in Kuala Lumpur, one can find Chinese, indian, and Malay cuisines He told Gio that this assortment of foodways was the result of ge Onhow the British reorganized Malaysian society during the colonial times. The British did little to change the way of life of the Malays who were the original residents, but brought in Chinese laborers to work in the rubber plantations and tin mines, and Indians to help manage the bureaucracy and serve as the initial professional core of a potential middle class. One of the ways that these ethnic groups were identified was through their foodways. According to Latif, Malaysia eventually became famous for these cuisines which can be found in the various “hawker centers” across the nation’s cities and towns. These food stands are located in outdoor food parks where locals and tourists taste the best of Malaysia, from nasi lemak to laksa. Gio interrupted Latif and asked, "What is laksa?” He felt more ashamed at his lack of knowledge. “Ahh. ..let me show you what it is and how itis prepared!” replied Latif. The next day, Latif took Gio to a Malaysian restaurant a few blocks away from the university. Gio was surprised to discover that Malaysian food was readily available in Sydney. Having noticed this, Latif explained to his Filipino friend that, over the years, as more and more Malaysian students moved to Sydney to study, Malaysian restaurants followed suit. Soon after, they were catering Not only to these students, but to Australia-born “Sydneysiders” as well, whose culinary tastes were becoming more and more diverse, Gio finally had his first taste of laksa—a rice noodle soup in a spicy coconut curry sauce. He found the flavors intense since, like most Filipinos, he was not used to spicy food. However, in deference to his friend, he persisted and eventually found himself enjoying the hot dish. After the meal, Gio and Latif went to a nearby café and ordered “flat whites"—an espresso drink similar to latte, which is usually served in cafés in Australia and New Zealand. Both knew what flat whites were since there were Australian-inspired cafés in both Kuala Lumpur and Cebu.at Laksa:atich and spicy rice noodle soup The new friends promised to stay in touch after the competition, and added each other on Facebook and Instagram | Over the next two years, they exchanged e-mails and posts, congratulated each other for their achievements, and commented on and liked each other's photos. Latif sent his Mother's recipe to Gio and the latter began cooking Malaysian food in his home. A few years after graduation, Gio moved to Singapore, Joining Many other overseas Filipino workers (OFW5) in the city-state, The culture was new to him, but One thing was familiar: the Federation of Malaysia, Singapore, however, separated from the Federation in August 1965 and became a nation-state, Today, they may be two distinct countries in this part of the world, but Singapore and Malaysia still share the same cuisine. After ¢ Irate ee settled down in his apartment, Gio sought out and Avorite laksa stall in Newton Hawker Center, He would Spend his wag} 7 shes ends there with with friends eating laksa and other Biel raed JWhat is Globalization? | 5 A hawker center in Singapore One Saturday, while Gio was checking his Facebook feed along the very busy Orchard Road—Singapore’s main commercial road—he noticed that Latif had just posted something 5 minutes earlier. It was a picture from Orchard Road. Surprised but also excited, Gio sent Latif a private message. Latif replied immediately saying that he too had moved to Singapore and was, at that moment, standing in front a department store just a few blocks away from where Gio was. The two friends met up, and after a long hug and quick questions as to what each was up to, they ducked into a café and renewed their international friendship. ..by ordering a pair of flat whites.