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Pampanga has always enjoyed the title, “the food basket of the Philippines.” Being a Kapampangan is almost synonymous to being an excellent cook. This is undoubtedly true most especially among our famous Cabalens.
There’s so much to be proud about in our own local culture. If there is anything that makes the little town of Sta. Rita famous, it’s the mouth-watering sweets and native delicacies.
These native delicacies or the so-called “kakanin” have long been famed products of Dila-Dila, one of the developed barangays of Sta. Rita. Among the well-known manufacturers of these native delicacies in the town is Mrs. Magdalena Cayanan Cuenco of Sinipit, Dila-Dila. Aling Daling as she is often called has become one of the pioneers of native delicacies in this town. She has been known for her artistic and passion in making food experiment. Her products became the town’s specialty that when you visit her, she will surely offer you her unique delicacies.
Here are some of her yummy and very popular delicacies:
The tasty cassava cake for any occasion. It is purely made of native cassava pudding topped with ‘latik’ or coconut cream curds.
The native dessert known as the ‘sapin-sapin’ consists of coconut milk, ube, and powder. It is made from rice flour or rice that has been soaked overnight. Thencrushed into a paste. Each layer is tinted (the bottom one, a deep ube-like purple, the top one, white) and steamed before the next layer is added.
The famous ‘tibuk-tibok’ or better known as ‘maja blanca’ is made out of rice flour or rice mixed with sweet carabao’s milk or coconut milk, accentuated with dayap, blended with kernel corn and topped with ‘latik’.
Her other product include leche flan, pichi-pichi, and halayang ube.
They are prominent because of the extraordinary ingredients used and procedures done to achieve a flavor that one will continuously look for once tasted. These unique quality food products of Aling Daling have made them favorite and most sought-after ‘pasalubong’ to loved ones here and abroad.
Almost 300 llaneras (aluminum molds) or more are prepared and cooked everyday. Each llanera of any costs only P 20.00. These generated better income opportunities to Aling Daling and her family knowing that this type of industry can be easily manufactured even at home.
Truly Aling Daling has not only revealed to us the secrets of her food-making experiments which have made her simple town noted for its delectable native delicacies which even reached other places here and abroad., but also taught us good values that help us survive the modern world.
So have a reunion with your family and friends and plan a pilgrimage to the birthplace of authentic Kapampangan native delicacies.
(Marlon A. Sedino) |
