#crunchcrunch

From the first bite of the chips, the crunchy texture is all I could feel. The saltiness mixed with a hint of bitterness touched the tip of my tongue, and that’s all I could remember. But by the second time around, the real flavor of the potato burst right out. The saltiness hit the bottom of my tongue to the point it almost numbed my mouth. Chewing from time to time, I could feel the rough texture continuously hurt my gums. The smell you couldn’t quite distinguish at first, a potato chip is a food you don’t normally notice from its aroma alone. Yet it has this distinct, addictive flavor, a popular snack you’ll always find at any normal store. The unique taste in it causes you to eat more. Because the moment I opened the bag, halfway full, you could already see the golden chip waiting to be devoured. Using my hand to grab a piece, I could almost taste it just from touching it.

In the Philippines, potato chips are perfect for afternoon merienda. Merienda is that special snack time in the late afternoon when the sun is still hot but starting to go down. I remember many days like that in my childhood.

Flashback to when I was a kid, about 10 years old. School ended at 3 PM. I walked home with my backpack heavy from books. My tummy growled from playing traditional games with my friends. Before going home, stopping by the store is my routine, buying snacks, and I would sit on the bamboo bench outside our house eating my potato chips. The chips crunched as I ate. Neighbors passed by on their bikes, waving hello. The salty taste made me happy. I finished the whole bag, licking my fingers clean. Those moments felt like a treat after a long day.

Even on weekends, I would walk to buy my favorite merienda or snack, a potato chip, specifically the V-cut. I would open the bag and start eating it in front of the store where I bought it. I would often sit at the counter with my feet on the chair because the chair is just in front of the store, made out of stone and connected to the wall of that store. I would use my free time there just to watch other people mind their own business.

They fueled childhood meriendas after school, shared with siblings during typhoon days indoors. In a world of health fads, their unapologetic excess rebels, greasy fingers, littered crumbs, and zero regrets. It takes me back to those simple times. The golden chips wait inside, crunchy and salty. One bite, and the flavor bursts. The numbness comes, the gums ache a bit, but it’s all good. Potato chips are more than food. They are memories of lazy afternoons, family laughs, and easy joy.