We arrived early for a meeting one Saturday a few years back and while the two of us were waiting for our colleagues, we decided to play a word game inspired by the meal before us to kill time.
Right in front of us was a tray with coffee and my favorite McMuffin with egg (but minus the cheese for me due to lactose intolerance).
“Why not refresh ourselves with the word ‘egg’ to keep our mind busy?”
And off came the first entry – “bad/good egg” to describe a dishonest and unreliable/kind person.
“Are we trying to sound like egghead’s here?” my friend asked, joking about whether we are trying to sound intellectual by playing the word game.
“You can get an egg on your face by saying that,” was my reply, teasing him – that it happens when people do something silly or stupid.
“Oh, sometimes I find myself walking on eggshells,” he said describing instances when he found himself amidst a delicate situation.
“Maybe it’s because you have put all eggs in one basket,” I replied, reminding him of the risk of relying on only one person or thing to succeed in an endeavor.
My McMuffin was half consumed and so was the coffee and I was talking about how good they were when he blurted, “I can’t boil even an egg!”
I wasn’t sure whether he said it in the context of our semantical exercise or it was a direct admission of his inability to prepare even a simple meal.
Before we can talk about the proverbial chicken-and-egg situation, our colleagues arrived, prompting my friend to say, “No contest here, we literally came first!” and we both laughed, as we egged on our newly-arrived colleagues for arriving more than half an hour late.
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The thought of that egg word game came when I remembered that a global event is taking place on Oct. 11 – World Egg Day, which has been observed every second Friday of the 10th month of the year since 1996.
World Egg Day aims to “raise global awareness about the incredible benefits of eggs as an inexpensive and highly nutritious food source, with the potential to help feed the world.”
This year, WED focuses on the theme, “United by Eggs.” The theme underscores how the egg can connect and unite people from all corners of the globe.
The International Egg Commission has underscored that eggs have a unique ability to bring families and communities together.
“They are a staple in countless cuisines within every continent. From a delicate quiche in France to Tamago Sushi in Japan, eggs play a central role in meals that bring people together,” the commission said in its website, adding that “through the enjoyment of eggs, people around the world are able to find common ground and a sense of connection.”
Amplifying the significance of this year’s theme, the common added: “Along with their power to unite communities, eggs are an environmentally sustainable and inexpensive animal protein, connecting people in the pursuit of a healthier planet.”
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A study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology showed that eggs top the most consumed protein-rich foods in the Philippines.
Chicken eggs ranked eighth among the most commonly-consumed foods, next to rice, sugar, coconut oil, salt, instant coffee, garlic, and bombay onion, the study further said.
Among the protein-rich food sources, the FNRI study also said, egg is followed by powdered choco milk drink, powdered filled milk, canned fish sardines and galunggong.
Negros Occidental is among the top producers of eggs in the country. The list is led by Batangas, which apparently serves the Metro Manila market.
Online reports indicate that Pampanga and Cebu round up the Top Three egg-producing provinces followed by Bukidnon, Bulacan, South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Rizal, Tarlac, and Negros Occidental.
The combined production of these provinces, online records further showed, accounted for 71.6% of the country’s total egg production.
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Available online data show that In the Philippines, consumption is placed at 161 eggs per person per year – which a little over four eggs per every Filipino pet week.
Japan has the highest consumption globally, which is 320 eggs per person every year.
Based on consumption per capita, Hong Kong leads the list with 26.19, followed by Macau (23.04), China (21.96), Mexico (21.26) and Japan (19.59).
Eggheads, good eggs or otherwise, the second Friday of this month calls everyone to celebrate as we are all “United by Eggs.”
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Thanks to all my former students, colleagues, friends and kin who sent me greetings (and gifts, too) on the Oct. 5 celebration of Teacher’s Day. Your thoughts filled me with joy.
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Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay are those who gain riches by unjust means. When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them, and in the end they will prove to be fools. (Jeremiah 17:11) | NWI
