I-Witness presents ‘Biyaheng Bibimbap’

CEBU, Philippines - The Korea in our minds is pop culture, brand names, and even Korean communities in every major city of the Philippines. Korea is everywhere, but Filipinos barely know the country, its history and culture.

Howie Severino and his “I-Witness” team learn that there is a special relationship between Filipinos and Koreans forged in a forgotten war, where Filipino troops fought for the first time in a foreign country to defend it. It was a conflict that also eventually bore a pioneering Korean restaurant in Manila, serving an ancient dish that has become a symbol for Korea –bibimbap.

Howie and his team travel to South Korea to investigate the origins and meaning of this colorful dish imbued with so much meaning and history by Koreans.

Bibimbap is their window into Korean culture and a key to understanding Korea’s drive to become a global force.

In Seoul, they meet a perky OFW who has a unique public role in Korean society and accompanies Howie on an exploration of South Korean markets and gritty street food stalls, aspects of Korean culture not evident in the glossiness more familiar to foreign audiences. She too has her own take on bibimbap and why it represents both the new and old Korea.

The documentarists travel outside Seoul to seek the most authentic and famed bibimbap, and discover that within its rainbow of fresh flavors is the formula for Korea’s national success.

Don’t miss Howie Severino’s documentary “Biyaheng Bibimbap” in I-Witness tonight, 10:30 p.m. on GMA-7. (PR) (FREEMAN)