boodle fight - /bo-dol fayt/ [All over the Philippines] a form of dining; dw Eng. [kit and caboodle > kit 'n' caboodle > boodle >boodle fight] [n.] the partaking of food or assortment of foods, laid altogether in one place, usally lined with a spread of whole banana leaves as table cover. Food may also be laid on the ground, lined with a spread of whole banana leaves.
Boodle fight is not a dish. It is a way or the act of dining together.
A boodle fight is not about the food laid out on a spread of banana leaves. Rather, it is an action and the spirit of sharing and dining together. Boodle fight is born from camaraderie and closeness among those who share and partake in the meal. The act of contributing food and reaching in to grab a share symbolizes a shared struggle, perseverance, mutual care, and the desire to relive moments of togetherness.
Boodle fight is not defined by the type or abundance of food, but by the spirit of collective effort and unity. Even if the table offers nothing but rice, no viand, or just snacks and finger food, it still counts as a boodle fight - as long as the reason for sharing the meal is rooted in shared memories, collective experiences, camaraderie, closeness, and most often with the struggles and hardships they once faced together.
Without camaraderie and collective sharing, such dining is not a boodle fight - it’s just a regular gathering of diners.
It doesn’t matter whether you eat with your hands, with a spoon and fork, or even with chopsticks. In a boodle fight, eating your way as you like is very much welcome.
Why this? Why that? Because the origin of boodle fight is not rooted in social customs or ethnolinguistic traditions. The origin of the Filipino-style boodle fight comes from the struggle and solidarity of our military forces - from the time they entered training, endured trials, served their duties, and eventually left or retired. At the end of their training, mission, or when they see each other again or have a reunion, they would celebrate their collective struggle and experiences through a boodle fight. It was their version of having a farewell, a celebration, or a reunion dinner - this is their version of dispedida and their desire to relive moments of togetherness.
A true boodlefight must have the following elements:
- Ambagan – contribution, of any food and in any form.
- Samahan – camaraderie or fellowship.
- Sabayang pagsisikap – collective struggle.
By now, we’ve adapted and Filipinized the boodle fight - making it to look extravagant, distorting the original meaning, and the misconception that you must dine in a kamayan style (eating with bare hands) and claiming Filipinos invented it. The truth is, it did not originate in the Philippines, and it is not a dish.
The Origin of Boodle Fight
Based on
The Journal of American Folk-Lore - Volume 4 (1891), there was this New England
word kitcaboodle that derived from the phrase Kit and caboodle
that was later on shortened to kit ‘n’ caboodle. The kit refers to
persons and caboodle to their belongings.
 |
| Journal of American Folk-Lore, Volume Part 1-2, (1891) |
Then in
1994, Paul Dickson wrote in his book, War Slang, A Collection of
American Fighting Words and Phrases Since the Civil War, attributing boodle fight
to have derived from American boodle, which is a party foodstuff consisting of
cake, candy, ice cream, pastries, etc.. Dickson defined Boodle Fight as a party at which boodle
is served. He also identified a boodle bag and defined it as a kit or Army
haversack into which one stuffs boodle.
 |
| War Slang, A Collection of American Fighting Words and Phrases Since the Civil War (1994) |
Fast forward to the post-World War II era in the Philippines.
After having completed their military training or service, Filipino soldiers
would gather whatever provisions remained in their bags and lay them out
together, either on a long table or directly on the ground lined with a spread of
whole banana leaves. This communal meal became their way of holding a despedida,
or farewell gathering. They called it a boodle fight.
 |
Boodle fight of Scout Ranger Course Class 193 of 2015
(Photo courtesy of Scout Ranger Training School, Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan) |
The dining was informal and practical. Soldiers would eat
with their clean hands, quickly and efficiently, just as they had been trained
to act in a snappy manner with discipline and urgency. It wasn’t about ceremony
or luxury; it was about shared experience, camaraderie, and honoring the bond
formed through service.
 |
| Boodle fight of actual Philippine soldiers in Sulu (Photo shared by Proud Bisaya on Facebook) |
Now, boodle fight can be for anybody. It's no longer exclusive to the military. Even the politicians use it during the election campaign as their guise of pakikisama sa masa to gain popularity and collect more votes.
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All photos by Edgie Polistico with watermarks are copyrighted. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
References:
- The Journal of American Folk-Lore, Volume 4, 1891.
- Dickson,Paul; War Slang A Collection of American Fighting Words and Phrases Since the Civil War, 1994.
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