How the Filipino Soldier Delectable Tradition called "BOODLEFIGHT" being done?

One of the traditions that I love about being in the military service is the BOODLEFIGHT.

The food is just secondary. I am more delighted  by what it represents. It symbolizes many things which are essential of being in the military service like BROTHERHOOD, TEAMWORK, and EQUALITY.

Writing about this blog came suddenly.

It was one Tuesday afternoon while I was showing some pictures about my country, PHILIPPINES, to my classmates from different countries when one picture attracted the attention of my female classmate from AFRICA. She said "wait, I want to see what kind of food is that."

I replied, "That is what we called in the PHILIPPINES especially in the military as "BOODLEFIGHT".

She was amused and asked for a copy of the picture to show it to her comrades and prepare something like that when she goes back home to AFRICA after the completion of our schooling in CHINA.

That moment triggered me to write this simple blog. It is really amazing on how one comment or a remarkable moment inspired you to do something.

This schooling is really a holistic approach in EDUCATION. It is not just learning about the theories about WAR, but also learning more things and lessons outside the classroom, learning from other international students from 44 different countries and also from our Chinese classmates, aside from the formal lectures and discussion.

To make this BLOG more substantial, I conducted research about BOODLEFIGHT.

These are some of the interesting facts what I discovered.

While searching for some definitions of the word BOODLEFIGHT, it is defined in the following sentences:

"A Philippine military eating tradition, originally practiced by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets, wherein members of the military—regardless of rank—gather around a long table where a jumble of food is spread over banana leaves or old newspapers, and eaten with bare hands, as a symbol of fraternity and equality."

Yes I vividly remembered those moments when I was still a PMA cadet, we regularly gathered for a simple boodlefight with DRIED FISH, SCRAMBLED EGGS, SARDINES, and  STEAMED RICE using old newspapers and sometimes plastic bags.

Another definition that caught my attention:

"In the Philippines, boodlefight is a military terminology for “eating combat” or “attack the food.”

As a HUEY helicopter pilot once in my life, I usually experienced having BOODLEFIGHT not only with the AIR FORCE GUYS but also together with the ARMY and NAVY comrades especially during combat operations.

Then another definition is appropriately describing BOODLEFIGHT whether in the field, in the camp, in air bases, or even in offices:

"The boodle fight is usually prepared in celebration after a successful event or for a special occasion.

Boodle fight is a military style of eating where long tables are prepared and food are on top of the banana leaves. Viands and rice ready to eat using your bare hands, jugs of water are prepared on the side to wash hands before the "eating combat". With the signal to start the boodle fight, everyone aims for his/her position.

A traditional meal where the food (usually pancit - skinny noodles cooked in grease) is dumped in a pile on old newspaper and then everybody eats as fast as they can using their fingers.

The fourth definition sums up the ESSENCE of BOODLEFIGHT:

"A military style of eating, Boodle Fight is a symbol of brotherhood and equality among Filipino military by sharing the same food without regard to rank."

I also found an interesting comment about BOODLEFIGHT: 

For some people they may find this very unhygienic but sometimes you cannot be too choosy, especially when you want to survive in the middle of nowhere. In this fight you have to eat fast. Just enjoy and have fun.

HOW ABOUT YOU? 

HAVE YOU ALREADY EXPERIENCED BOODLEFIGHT? What are your thoughts and comments?