I'll be technical and put on my history nerd hat. Because the nations who use chopsticks were either subjects or conquered by China at one point in their history: Korea (Goryeo), Japan (Nihon), Vietnam (Dainam), etc. Filipinos were not conquered and did not become subjects of them- ever. We are part of the Malay race, traditionally Moros/Muslims. The Moros used their hands to eat. It was only through the arrival of the Spanish that we adopted the usage of Western utensils- the spoon, fork and table knives.
One of mankind's greatest invention. I especially love the 'Leftover steak with gravy open sandwich.' Long live the Queen! Long live the United Kingdom! Hahahahahaha...
Filipino food is not difficult to learn to cook. you know how in Thailand you can go on these Thai cooking courses, and it can take days? with Filipino food it would only take a few hours. it didn't take me long to learn how to cook the main Filipino dishes to about the same general standard as just about any girls I've known. I've always liked to cook for myself and especially in provincial Philippines there just isn't any other ingredients available. Although when it's done well there is nothing wrong with Filipino food, the standard in carendirias can be so low that if you want a decent feed you really have to DIY. You don't have any choice but to learn how to cook pinoy-style.
Filipino convention is most like Malays, who also tend to eat with their hands but because there are so much more Chinese in Malaysia (25% as against 1-2% in the Philippines) almost every Malaysian of whatever ethnic group is familiar with chopsticks. some Filipinos know how to use chopsticks, quite a lot don't. They must be the least chopstick-familiar of all the 10 SEAsian nationalities. the Thais are familiar with chopsticks but they also eat quite a lot with their hands too. I've sat in on a lot of rural mealtimes where Thais sit around on the floor in a circle cross-legged and they don't use any utensils at all to eat. Rice they just make it into a ball and flick it into their mouths. Everything else they just wrap in lettuce leaves and eat it like a sandwich. If there's any soup then obviously they'll use a spoon to consume that, and when it's noodle soup they'll use spoon and chopsticks, but apart from that Thais can eat just about everything using just their hands.
Chicken adobo made by my fiancé is nothing less than amazing, I think she is a fantastic cook but she never believes it, cooking is not a strong point of mine but learning to cook some Filipino dishes via web cam with her is great. Look forward to trying them out on her.
Kris ( @inaroiles ) made chicken adobo for us when here in Scotland in November. She was worried as she hadn't used breast meat before and was concerned to get the marinade / sauce in proportion. She needent have - it was great and I'm a convert! Nom nom and indeed thrice nom!
I make a nice a chicken adobo my fiancé adds potatoes too very unconventional i know but it's so nice.
A lot of rice cookers here are overly complex, you want something simple that will cook the rice quickly and to perfection. This is the closest I have seen here to a plain simple reliable rice cooker http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Rice-Cooker/18-4020 This is another one that I have been thinking about as I need a reliable spare, my current rice cooker is a Tefal thing that is over ten years old and I am dreading the day it finally dies as all the new Tefal rice cookers get slated. This is mine but they don't make it any more it has been great. Given the price I think the Clas Ohlson is likely the best.
Resounding success! My fiance just had his first adobo and he loved it. I only cooked half the chicken and at the end of it, he asked where is the rest