" A WINTER DREAM FOR FILIPINOS LIKE THE ESSENCE OF APEC SUMMIT"
PASTILLAS, the way I defined Pastilla's is any candy that is wrapped of something. Its the original "DULCE", fame for being sweet. Usually reserved as dessert for formal dining,,or for receiving guest in the sala as a subject for conversation. For children 'pastille' or 'dulce' could be eaten any time of the day. Its something that children could enjoy and brings nostalgic mementoes for adults . Perhaps in the nationwide scale pastille's known for condiments but have a varied versions , interpretations, and name sake for each hometowns. But nationally it could be called pastilles, with the orientation that each ingredients must be made from the cows milk or carabao's milk, and muscovado sugar and wrapped meticulously by paper cut with thematic artful artistry. In Bicol region, particular in Tandon Barcelona Sorsogon ,we have our version of Pastilla's. And definitive meaning of Pastillas's thats of anything thai is " DULCE" ,wrapped in paper or 'papel de hapon'.
BALICUCHA- this very sweet , is made from the caramelised brown sugar ,wrapped in paper.Its shape is like the way you pinch "salt " , and twisted with a little ribbon ,an extra paper and cut trimmed with a sort of tentacles .The only authority person who can do , the authentic balicucha in our place is Nana Caring. Her only source of livelihood aside from being a devoted Catholic catechist for Grade One student in Tandon Elementary School.
MULIDO- made from sweet potatoes , mash from boiling , then sweetened by brown sugar with, added coconut milk and meat of young coconut. it is being cut into a diagonal (diamond like size). Only Nana Rita ,can make the real mulido in own home town. She accept orders for commission type.
Dinulce na Pili- like mulido of Nana Rita, she is known for the perfect brittle Pili " Dulce".
Pili is the Bicol own world class nuts. Tedious processes is methodically followed before the dulce can be served into a comfort food for what is today ,that is ready available in the counter of supermarket. Pili is a fruit of pili tree. To harvest pili from a pili tree is life threatening it self. From the harvest pili fruits, that the nut is derived by de shelling the pili owned covered shelf. Though some preferred the shell to be gathered and made from ornamental designs craft , some preferred the fibrous covered layer of the pili fruits for another source of food (viand deep in any condiments like black soy source).The nut is the inner most layer of the pili fruits. It boiled to it to make a palatable taste combined with caramelised sugar and provide its glued of velvety colour. From boiling it could attain its brittleness by deep frying from any vegetable oil ( even coconut oil).
PULVORON; made from the corn starch, milk and sugar . Corn starch is roasted until a yellowish brown , then mixes with milk powder and brown sugar. Using the stamp pad made for shaping the mixes powder ( starch , powder milk, sugar) , then pulvoron is good now for the sweet tooth like the children and adult alike. In hometown , except for homemade pulvoron, all can be sourced out in over the counter stores ,since no body is specialising , for making pulvoron either for a living , or for cooking habits. But together with niece Melany Fulleros now Perez, we experimented how to make Pulvoron during our teen age days, that we make it a habit when we crave of "pulvoron".
TAM-IS "Dulce" BINAGOL - is a hard ball ,solid sugar shape from the shell of coconut. Its super hard, that you need not only a knife to castrate it for sharing. The most sharpest "bolo" for farming is the best utensil to cut it off, for a desired shape of sharing . Since Bicol region ,in particular Tandon , Barcelona Sorsogon, is not a sugar producing region. This stuff could only sourced by a special order in the neiboring super market of Gubat, known for importing the said sweet from the producing region of the Philippines like Tarlac or Bacolod ( as the very back ground of the beautiful cinematography of the now showing movie of Enrique Gil and the Liza Soberano - " Every day I love you". In my home its a usual staple ,being refrigerated as a regular stuff, since it the most favourite dessert of my father.
The Pastilla's , the " DULCE" in artfully wrapped, will be inherent to the Filipino culture. If APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit participants, were able to experience the " Pastillas- Filipino", immortalised and magnified through a " Christmas Tree" as now majestically displayed in the famed Ayala Triangle Lobby, the Filipino's is aiming that the essence of APEC summit will bring success in the lives of the economic chain like of "Pastilla", the livestock farmers(dairy and milk) , sugar farmers, coconut farmers , corn farmers (corn starch), potato farmers, pili farmers. A real success of these industries could mean a real Christmas, not merely a day dreaming Christmas, the way Philippines of dreaming a " Winter".
Henry Estipona
King Financial
Tagdon Barcelona Sorsogon
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