Chicken sausage served to SEA Games athletes, not kikiam

It is not true that the Philippine women’s football team participating in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games were served with “kikiam,” a Filipino street food.

In a letter addressed to Team Philippines chef de mission and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez, the president and chairman of Whitewoods Convention & Leisure Hotel, Edgardo M. Capulong, clarified that it was actually chicken sausage that was served to the athletes for breakfast in its hotel in Cavite.

Capulong said they have proofs of their claim and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Food Audit Team in their hotel can attest to it.

“The other Pinoy athletes also know that they ate chicken sausage,” the executive said.

“We never serve kikiam because we do not have it and it is not in our menu. Our serving is generous because we decided a free and open buffet service complete with egg omelet station that is not part of our contract,” he added.

This clarification came after the issue trended online and drew flak from the public.

Capulong lamented the action of a member of the Philippine team who chose to post her concern on her Facebook account instead of directing it to the management of the hotel.

He also expressed disappointment at how the Team Philippines brought Baliwag Lechon for dinner without coordinating the food audit committee. He said such action is a “clear violation of our agreement that no oil, pork be served due to the sensitivity issue with our Muslim brothers/athletes.”

“We are so sad because our very own Pinoy athletes are the very first ones to destroy our dignity as Filipinos. Where is our sense of nationalism?” he said.

“All out efforts and undertaking will be in vain because of a few careless, insensitive athletes of ours [who] are spreading info,” he added.

Despite this, the management, Capulong assured, will continue to provide “best accommodation and food services” to its guests.

It also thanked the PSC for giving them an additional budget to address the complaints regarding food quantity and quality.