kumain ka na ba?

A hamburger is an iconic American symbol, but in this piece, I merge American and Filipino elements to reflect my identity as a Filipino American. The paper sculpture takes the shape of a burger, honoring the Filipino phrase “Kumain ka na ba?”—“Have you eaten yet?” More than a casual greeting, this phrase is a profound expression of care, often used in place of “How are you?” In Filipino culture, where vulnerability can be difficult to express, food becomes an intimate way of showing love.

This phrase carries weight in a nation shaped by colonization, authoritarian rule, and economic hardship, where food insecurity has made it a genuine check-in on one’s well-being. Asking if someone has eaten is a way of saying, “Are you okay?” without requiring vulnerability first.

Each layer of the burger unfolds like a conversation, deepening in intimacy. What begins as a familiar American object transforms into something deeply personal, revealing at its core a handwritten note: “Let me care for you.” This final message encapsulates the quiet, persistent love embedded in Filipino culture, where affection is shown through everyday gestures rather than words.

By reshaping an American object into a vessel for Filipino warmth, this sculpture bridges the two cultures I belong to. It highlights how food is more than nourishment—it is comfort, survival, and an unspoken language of love.

Gabi Dagdag