Vegan or vegetarian?

CEBU, Philippines - First things first: I am not a vegan.

So, what right do I have to write about something that I don't actually practice?

Well, the thing is, I am tired of people saying that they are vegans, not even understanding what it really means to be vegan. Some publicly declare that they are vegan royalties – king, queen, prince, or princesses – but in essence, they practice not even the basic tenets of veganism.

Recently, a post went viral on the net, claiming that to be vegetarian and not to be vegan is hypocrisy. Vegetarians, on the other hand, say that vegans are hypocrites because there is just no way to be purely vegan.

Well, who is to say? If you ask me, it's all a matter of opinion, but one thing is certain, vegan and vegetarian are two different things.

Veganism is a lifestyle and vegetarianism is part of it.

So, what does it take to be vegan?

Here's my checklist for one that would qualify for a vegan:

1. Vegetarian. Meaning, pure vegetarian. No, eliminating red meat from your diet but still indulging in fish, chicken, and other seafood does not make you a vegetarian. And, if you want to be a vegan, you have to eliminate milk (including all dairy products, like ice cream and cheese), honey, and eggs. If you can do this, well, congratulations, you're a true-blue vegetarian and not a poser.

2. Take off those shoes! Vegans don't use anything that's sourced from animals. This means no leather shoes, no leather bags, no skins for belts, wallets, and others. Silk is another material that a vegan shuns. Silk is made by silk worms that if allowed to develop would turn into a moth. With silk, the worms are not allowed to develop, rather, once turned into cocoons, they are harvested, the worms removed (and usually fried to be made into a delicacy), and the silk thread woven into the most beautiful material that would be made into the most elegant evening gown or the most comfortable comforter. Vegans, believe this to be a form of exploitation and is a total no, no.

3. Check the ingredients. Vegans are pretty concerned when it comes to animal welfare and rights. This means all form of exploitation of animals is a no, no. Some consumer products, most especially cosmetics, contain animal ingredients guised in such fancy names as: acetate, retinol, vitamin A, and palmitate, which may come from fish liver oil or egg yolks; carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid, which is made from crushed female cochineal insects; or guanine or pearl essence, which is obtained from fish scales. The list goes on. (For a more complete list, check out veganwolf.com/animal_ingredients.htm)

4. Did you say animal testing? Buying a new perfume? Or, how about some medicines? Well, before you make that order, check if these products are developed through animal testing. The problem is, most Western medicines are tested on animals, but it might be safer if you pursue a more natural method of healing, and yes, oriental medicine. They are honestly as effective as Western medicine, but coming across an Oriental Doctor can be hard for us. Just one word of caution though, animal ingredients is very common in Oriental Medicine so check the ingredients. And also, the next time you buy something, check for labels like "Cruelty Free" or "Not Tested on Animals."

5. Free those animals. Vegans respect animal rights, the reason why they chose the lifestyle. For this reason, vegans abhor keeping animals in cages or limiting their movement to the four walls of your compound. So, ever thought of having pets? Well, that isn't just being true to the lifestyle. Free those fishes, free those birds, and let those dogs and cats roam wherever they wish. Just make sure that you either neuter them (spaying females are more preferable than castrating males, which is, in a way, unnecessary) so that they don't get pregnant, and make sure they are completely vaccinated, because you sure don't want to spend that much when it bites some un-vegan passerby.

Yes, veganism is far more difficult. It is, after all, a total lifestyle that aims to eliminate exploitation and all forms of cruelty towards animals. But then again, if you really are determined and convinced that there is a dire need to protect and defend animal rights, then, it won't be that hard. Just keep the goal in front of you.

So, who can say they're vegan? Photo from postsecret.com