Merienda: The Filipino Ritual of Pausing Together
- Gabriel Feliciano
- Oct 15
- 6 min read
Editor’s Note:
In the Philippines, “merienda” refers to the mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack — a pause between meals that’s as much about rest and connection as it is about food. This story reflects on how that simple daily ritual continues to nourish community and spirit across generations.
“Kain na! Luto na! Meryenda na tayo!”
Let’s eat! Time for merienda!
My grandmother’s voice would echo throughout the whole house from the kitchen. Everyone, including me, my sister, cousins, aunts and uncles would go out of our rooms and follow the aroma of champorado steaming and bubbling on the stove.
We’d find ourselves with bowls in hand, lined up patiently waiting our turns to scoop up some of that steaming chocolate rice porridge. It was the kind that clings to the spoon and carries the scent of roasted cacao — my favorite type of comfort ladled into a bowl, prepared with fresh local ingredients, made better with love and zero preservatives.
But… looking back, what I remember most vividly isn’t the taste of champorado that my grandma used to cook or whatever we ate for merienda back then.
It’s not that.
What stuck to me was actually how the day seemed to breathe differently when we sat down together. It was the laughter, the sigh of relief, the quiet companionship of us sharing food together.
It was the act of pausing.
I wasn’t able to appreciate it truly back then because I was just a little innocent kid, but now, as an adult with the whole world on his shoulders, merienda just feels different – in fact, God-given. A blessing. A Filipino tradition.
A tradition rooted in history
Merienda was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish when they colonized the country. Since then, it has been the unofficial fourth meal of the day in the Philippines.
This tradition is also seen in other cultures particularly in Italy (merenda), Brazil (lanche), and in Latin America (merendina), each following a concept of enjoying light meals throughout the day to restore energy.
While not entirely a Filipino concept, the country has made it distinctly its own. Merienda in the Philippines even has its own culinary category and it’s become a cherished daily ritual woven into every corner of Filipino life.
What’s merienda like in the Philippines?
The variety of Filipino merienda is endless—shaped by regional flavors, family traditions, and the country’s more than 7,000 islands, each with its own idea of the perfect snack.
Some of the most popular choices include pandesal, taho, and kakanin for breakfast, while kwek-kwek, isaw, betamax, and other street foods dominate the afternoon scene.
Merienda also changes with the seasons. During the Christmas months, you’ll find puto bumbong and bibingka sold outside churches, while in summer, halo-halo and sweetened fruits take the spotlight. Year-round favorites like pancit canton, lumpiang togue, and siopao remain beloved staples across the country.
When it comes to nutrition, there are no strict rules. Merienda can be anything from sweetened fruits to grilled innards sold on the street. What truly matters is satisfaction—if it curbs your craving and delights your taste buds, it counts.
Merienda Culture in Schools and Workplaces
From classrooms to offices, merienda has naturally found its place as a built-in break — a small but vital pause in the daily routine.
Ask a hundred students what their favorite subject is, and I guarantee you more than half would probably jokingly say, “Snacks.”
While I’m writing this, I asked my little brother who is in 4th grade what he thinks about recess period in school and the 10-year old me couldn't agree more.
“Sometimes I like recess more than class. It’s so fun. I get to see my friends from other classes and we just start telling stories while eating snacks.”
In schools, snacks or recess as it’s more popularly known in schools has long been part of the rhythm of the day. The Department of Education supports snack breaks by implementing policies which ensure that students have access to safe, nutritious food during recess.
Beyond nutrition, though, this short break has become a moment of joy and connection, a time for students to share snacks, laugh, and recharge before heading back to class. It’s a small but meaningful pause woven into the school day, teaching even the youngest Filipinos the quiet art of slowing down.
That simple joy continues into adulthood. In many workplaces, both public and private, merienda is part of the rhythm of the day as well, sometimes formally scheduled, sometimes informally observed between 3PM and 5PM.
John Paul, a BPO employee for 5 years shared that:“Merienda brings a lot to us Filipinos not just the food but the bonding we have when eating snacks together. We get to talk about life and get comfortable with each other while enjoying the little time we have on breaks. This eases the stress or diverts our attention to other things “
Merienda boosts his energy and serves as a “chill” team bonding that gives them a better team vibe, he added.
While I’m lucky to be working at home as a freelance writer, I still look forward to merienda. Around 3PM, I’d get up and instinctively look for something to eat, hungry or not — it’s been a ritual my body and mind have learned to expect.
The Local Market at 3PM
The best way to enjoy merienda, though, is to step outside and experience it with the community.
At merienda hour, you’ll see Filipino life gently slow down. In local parks and markets, food stalls cluster under the shade of trees. Students, office workers, and government employees gather for a quick bite and a brief rest.
In the picture above, you’ll see a popular merienda destination in our city, Capital Town. This is how it looks on a normal Monday. It’s much more packed during weekends.
While chatting with Ate May, a vendor selling kwek-kwek, isaw, and fishball, she shared how her small business has sustained her family for years — and why merienda means more than just food.
“Even just a simple turon or kwek-kwek makes them (customers) happy. I see it. Even when they’re tired from work, they still chat and laugh while eating. It seems to lighten the load. It’s better than going to a restaurant, really.”
“People are already used to it. Without merienda, it feels like something’s missing in their day. It’s not just the stomach that looks for it. It’s hard to go straight through work without a break,” she added.
Ate May sees it every day, how even a simple turon or kwek-kwek can lift people’s spirits. And maybe that’s why the absence of merienda feels unthinkable. It’s not just about hunger, but about connection. Without it, the day loses one of its softest, most human moments, the kind that lightens both body and mind.
A cultural exhale
Here’s the thing… being Filipino isn’t easy.
For many of us, the weight of daily life is beyond heavy. I’m talking about the daily commute to work, the stress of paying bills while living on a minimum wage that barely covers basic needs, the constant noise of politics and the push-and-pull of surviving in a developing country. The cost of living rises while salaries stay the same. Add to that the long hours, traffic jams, and the exhaustion of trying to make ends meet, and it’s no surprise that people are always looking for ways to breathe.
Looking at it deeper, merienda is just one way Filipinos show how resilient they are. Despite being in the middle of hardship, stress, they still are able to make space and time for joy.
This, perhaps, is what merienda has been teaching us all along — to stop, even for a moment. To sit, to breathe, to remember that we are not just surviving, but living.
When was the last time you did?
Gabriel Feliciano is a Filipino freelance writer and entrepreneur exploring the connections between culture, healing, and everyday wellness.
