Scarlette Oliver

Named after these roadside stalls, Carinderia is a space where my fellow immigrant countrymen can reconnect to their culture. New Zealand has had a constant stream of Filipino immigrants, many of them working in the construction industry. These individuals leave their home country to pioneer a new home for their families in an unfamiliar place. Like how my mother cooked warm meals for my family, Carinderia is a worker's canteen that provides labourers Filipino stews, nourishing their bodies with much needed nutrients but also their spirit by making a space where they can be immersed in their culture once again. As their families slowly come into the country this space becomes a space for bigger family gatherings and even space for their important belongings they bring along. Carinderia is a place where the Filipino community can gather together and feel a sense of home once again.