ILOCOS SUR: Food Trip and Pasalubong

Ilocos Sur's coastal towns are blessed with agricultural lands planted with grains and grazed with domesticated animals. The countryside setting gave birth to famous Iloko products that when first heard, you'll know it's tatak Ilocano. Here are some of favorite delicacies from this province: Abagatan nga Ilocos. Surely you'll exclaim delicious: "Naimas!"

1. Bagnet

I used to know that this dish is just a chunk of plus-size chicharon na may laman until our tour guide explained its difference. Bagnet is like a cross between lechon kawali (how it is fried), chicharon (how crispy its skin), and tapa (way of drying meat). In other words, bagnet undergone stages of drying, frying, popping then repeat twice (depends on way of cooking cycle) before sold. This was the method used in preserving meat since old times, there is no refrigerator yet. It is pricey but guaranteed to have a long shelf klife. In my case, part of it was used for pinakbet (Ilocano vegetable dish with shrimp paste) and other part was eaten as it is.

2. Vigan Longganisa


Ilocos region is one of the major producers of garlic. This spice is fondly used in preservations by encasing ground meat in pork intestines. Hence, their pork sausage or longganisa is on recado side (spicy and garlicky). Perfect with sukang iloko (vinegar).

3. Vigan Empanada

My definition of empanada is a folded pastry filled with savoury meet. But in Ilocos, they level it up with sausages, eggs and other sides. You can see them freshly made for you. Hence, you can order a heavy meal double-double (double longganisa and eggs)!

4. Royal Bibingka

I was curious of royal bibingka as what it looks like. I didn't expect that this kind of bibingka is not the usual fluffly steamed kakanin treat but it is similar to mini cassava cake. Due to its consistency, it was challenging to take a bite. The cheese melted at the top makes a perfect coating for a cheesecake treat

5. Candon Kalamay

We had a stopover at national highway in Candon City and saw vendors in front of city plaza selling something covered in paper bags. A lady gave me a free taste of sticky pudding and it tasted sweet but very light and has strands of coconut meat. I bought few packs and brought some back home. Make sure to eat these within 2 days to avoid spoilage.

6. Corn Snacks



Being a major producer of corn, Candon City makes treats from dried kernels and made into different forms of snacks. Various flavors from simple garlic to spicy barbecue with popped and cracked crunchy versions are available for pasalubong shoppers. Products are in the same lane with kalamay vendors.

7. Tinubong

Tinubong is a delicacy baked in tubong or bamboo tubes. The rice mixture is poured in tubes then cooked until glutinous in consistency. A sweet treat on-the-go, this is mostly sold fresh along the highway stopovers.

8. Balicucha

Everytime our friendly neighbors got home from their Ilocos hometown, they always gave us vegetable, spices and these curly candies. It's hard but softens when you lick it or dunk in black coffee for sweetness. I found out that these were made from sugarcane juice, extracted using a machine mechanically rotated by a carabao. Someday, I want to see how it is actually made. Munching on these canbe a good dessert. Sweetness overload!

There are some delicacies that I haven’t tried but I'll update this post as I try more Ilocano delicacies soon. Naimas! J

QUEZON: Food Trip and Pasalubong

Quezon is a vast province. It takes most of the Southern Tagalog Region rich in natural resources, where coconut plantations are abound. Festivals centered on farming are famous, so I took the opportunity of trying some of their well-known delicacies.

1. Kiping

Every May 15, Lucbanins celebrate their famous Pahiyas Festival in honor of San Isidro de Labrador, patron saint of farmers. Houses on the procession route were adorned by chandelier-like assembly called aranya, and the leaf-life components are called kiping. This wafer is made of pound rice and patterned on large leafs then left sun-dried. Actually, you can eat them grilled or salted. I tried one on a roadside and it tasted like rice cracker.

2. Longganisa

Lucban's version of pork sausage are more on the garlicky side. They are usually sold homemade and wrapped in paper packets available in dozens, small or large.

3. Pancit Habhab

This simple dish is prolific in our country, as every region (or town) has their own version. Pancit Habhab is traditionally eaten on a banana leaf and not cutlery needed. Piping hot noodles with savory sauce and fresh vegetable like carrots and chayote is already a  satisfying meal.

4. Pinagong

One of Sariaya's well-known delicacies is this milky bread pinagong. This bread, shaped like a turtle (hence pagong), is fulfilling and a bit pricier. You can buy this bread from bus vendors but the tastier ones are sold in old Sariaya bakeries.

5. Budin

Tayabas City has a special street dedicated to one sticky delicacy: Calle Budin. This street has stalls selling various pasalubong items but the famous one is the eponymous budin, a cassava cake baked from small circular pans and sold fresh from the oven. Best eaten hot as it has a melts-in-your-mouth feeling when you take a bite.


6. Yema Cake




In Spanish colonial times, one of the materials used to bind stones to build up walls of churches is egg white mixed with limestone. On the other hand, egg yolks are used to make desserts instead of being thrown to waste, by making dishes such as leche flan and yema cake. This sweet cake is made of chiffon slices and smothered by milk custard then sprinkled with generous amount of cheese. It is simple yet delicious. Some provinces in Tagalog regions are famous in producing these. One well-known brand raved about is the Rodillas' cake from Tayabas City. I saw their factory and it's hard to order in bulk during Agawan/Mayohan/Pahiyas festival season, as they ran out of stocks, so it's better to order directly from here.


Every town has their own specialties. It's great that I try them one product at a time. More food explorations soon. :)