Sasas memes revive memories of the tigpipisong tsitsirya days

The unpredictable Filipino humor has given Sasas and other childhood snacks back into the spotlight.

You’ve probably seen it in your feeds recently. Through random memes and absurd edits, Sasas Prawn Crackers, a snack once sold for just a peso at sari-sari stores, is now taking over the local meme community—bringing back memories of the tigpipisong tsitsirya era and proving just how unpredictable Filipino internet humor can be.

For those unfamiliar, Sasas is a salty, MSG-heavy shrimp-flavored snack produced by Regal Foods Corporation. It is typically sold in small, airy plastic packs strung together in long bundles and has a flavor similar to kropek.

Its sudden rise to popularity is a complete mystery. No viral commercials, no celebrity endorsement, and no real context. Sasas merely appeared out of nowhere.

The wave of Sasas memes has also placed other childhood snacks back into the spotlight, such as Kiss, Sweet Corn, Kobi, Lumpia, and Pompoms—some of which netizens even prefer over Sasas.

Back in the day, these snacks dominated every sari-sari store thanks to their iconic ₱1 price tag. Whether you were walking home after a long day from school, looking for a quick 4 PM merienda, or just happened to pass by a nearby store, a pocket full of coins was all it took to satisfy your cravings.

But the times have changed.

Due to inflation and the rising cost of ingredients, the classic tigpipisong tsitsirya slowly disappeared. Calling them “tigpipiso” today triggers emotion and nostalgia, since most of these packs now retail for ₱2 to ₱3 each or come in smaller portions.

On top of that, finding them in local stores has become difficult, with some store owners choosing to leave out these once-affordable snacks from their inventory.

Nowadays, you can mostly spot a bundle of these snacks in grocery stores and online shops.

The unhinged humor behind the Sasas meme is hilarious on its own, even without context. Yet this unexpected revival has also given Filipino netizens a quick, bittersweet trip back to a simpler time when a single peso coin could still provide a worthy crunch.

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